#Reusable Period Care

[saaltco2024]

How Many Pads & Tampons Go to Landfills Every Year?

Every year, over 12 billion pads and 7 billion tampons are discarded in the U.S., creating a massive environmental challenge. Made with non-biodegradable materials like plastic, these products can take 500-800 years to break down, making them a significant contributor to landfill waste.

Luckily, sustainable options like menstrual cups, menstrual discs, and period underwear are changing the game. These reusable products not only reduce waste but can also save you money.

A period cup replaces up to 4 tampons or 3 pads a day.

A menstrual disc holds as much as 6 tampons or 4 pads. Both cups and discs last up to 10 years and can be worn for 12 hours.

Leakproof panties can absorb as much as 8 tampons or 6 pads and are washable for years of use.

By switching to these eco-friendly alternatives, you can help divert billions of disposables from landfills and save some serious cash. Small changes add up. Choosing sustainable period products is a simple way to make a big impact for the planet, your wallet, and your peace of mind! Ready to make the switch?

Saalt is a sustainable period care brand working to support everyone who menstruates. They dedicate themselves to creating clean, high-performance products that are better for you and the planet. Their ethically made period cups and period underwear are for professional athletes, office workers, adventurers, and those new to their cycle. For a process that is natural and essential, Saalt offers something just as natural and straightforward.

Original Source

[booksr4ever18]

YO SO WHO WAS GONNA TELL ME THAT MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS ARE CONSIDERED MEDICAL EXPENSES IN THE US UNDER THE 2020 CARES ACT????? WHICH MEANS YOU CAN USE AN FSA TO PAY FOR IT?????

GUYS I JUST BOUGHT EXPENSIVE REUSABLE PADS WITH AN FSA OH MY GOD

[lemmebe7]

Learn how reusable period products positively impact the environment. Explore our guide for eco-friendly alternatives in period care and feminine products.

[ecobravouk]

Discover how to choose genuine organic reusable pads for eco-friendly periods. Learn about certifications, materials, and maintenance tips.

[nerdykeppie]

Holiday Shopping that fights period poverty for college students? Yep! Read on. :)

After the success of our June/Pride 2024 sales goal, where we managed to eliminate a lot of the debt we accumulated while I was unable to work earlier this year & stock up cash so we didn't have to borrow for payroll during the fall lull and also donate to @queerliblib, we were considering where to focus on this year when a conversation I had with my mom pointed me in the direction of our charity for Holidays 2024: the East Stroudsburg University Warrior Food Pantry, and specifically, stocking menstrual products at the pantry.

Without getting too much into the weeds about the details - which I'll talk about under the cut for those of you who are interested - here's the pitch: we need to hit a gross sales goal of $45K in December in order to pay our bills and payroll basically until Pride starts up. Businesses like ours are very much feast or famine, and we've got to eat and we've got people whose paychecks depend on us having the cash to pay them.

If we hit that goal, we'll donate the equivalent of 1% of our net profit from the month of December in period products -- tampons and pads, specifically, by request of the food pantry, and possibly reusable pads and menstrual cups, if the pantry wants that from us. (At the end of the day, this is about taking care of people the way they need, and we'll listen to the pantry staff about what people are requesting.)

We've currently got our Bottoms & Tops sale going, too, so you can buy 2 tops or bottoms from the linked collection & get 69% off the 3rd item from that collection.

Okay, so for the long version whys and wherefores:

My mom taught math at ESU for 35 years, and she and Dad now volunteer running the food pantry along with a couple of other people. ESU is a state school, and as such is one of the few remaining vaguely affordable schools in Pennsylvania. A lot of its students are self-supporting for one reason or another -- many are "non-traditional"/adult students, have kids, or don't have families that can support them while they go to school. Mom & Dad have pushed to expand what the food pantry offers to personal care items, which has been difficult due to a bunch of boring stuff about money and state entities and also people thinking 'that's not food,' but Mom is stubborn about it, because -- to paraphrase her -- how can you focus on class when you feel gross? This struggle has been especially difficult for menstrual products, and way more so for tampons, because it's a rather conservative area and... yeah. People get weird about it.

I've been really broke, with a young kid, and reliant on food pantries, which rarely, if ever, have any menstrual products, let alone tampons. Period poverty is very real, and it sucks.

Plus, I gotta tell you, if we can send a bunch of boxes of tampons and pads to the food pantry, well... Rumor has it this will help my mom win an argument over whether those items should be carried at all, because what are they gonna do, throw them out? They're here! They've been donated! Wasting them would be terrible. :)

So that's the pitch, guys. Help me make a direct, measurable difference in the lives of people at the school where I went to winter swim team, the school that fed me growing up... and help my mom win an argument about making people's lives better... and get your holiday shopping done while you do. ;) We start counting sales from the minute I hit post. :P

[pastel-charm-14]

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ten habits you should start in 2024 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

daily gratitude practice: take a few moments each day to reflect on the things you're grateful for. whether it's the warmth of the sun on your face or the love of your friends and family, cultivating gratitude can enhance your overall well-being and perspective on life.

morning meditation: start your day with a few minutes of meditation to center yourself and set a positive tone for the day ahead. focus on your breath, let go of any tension or stress, and cultivate a sense of calm and presence.

regular exercise routine: prioritize movement and physical activity in your daily life. whether it's going for a walk, practicing yoga, or hitting the gym, find activities that you enjoy and make them a regular part of your routine to boost your energy levels and improve your health.

healthy eating habits: nourish your body with nutritious foods that fuel your body and mind. focus on incorporating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins into your diet while limiting processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy fats.

daily hydration: drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated and support your overall health. aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, and consider carrying a reusable water bottle with you to help track your intake.

mindful screen time: be mindful of your screen time and its impact on your mental well-being. set boundaries around how much time you spend on devices, and take regular breaks to disconnect and engage in activities that nourish your soul.

prioritize sleep: make sleep a priority by aiming for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night. create a relaxing bedtime routine, optimize your sleep environment, and practice good sleep hygiene habits to ensure restful and rejuvenating sleep.

daily movement breaks: incorporate regular movement breaks into your day to break up long periods of sitting and keep your body active. set reminders to stretch, take short walks, or do a quick workout to boost circulation and reduce stiffness.

practice self-care: prioritize self-care activities that nurture your body, mind, and spirit. whether it's journaling, taking a bath, or spending time in nature, make time for activities that recharge your batteries and promote overall well-being.

mindful breathing: practice mindful breathing throughout the day to reduce stress and promote relaxation. take slow, deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth, focusing on the sensation of the breath entering and leaving your body.

incorporating these habits into your daily life can help you cultivate a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling year ahead. start small, be patient with yourself, and celebrate your progress along the way. here's to a year filled with growth, joy, and well-being! ✧.*

[haikyu-mp4]

Shark week

word count; 504 – f!reader on her period

“Who are you texting, Hoshi?” Romero asked, patting the short spiker on the back and making him look up from his phone, frown barely softening.

“Y/n is on her shark week, asked me to get some stuff on the way home,” Hoshiumi mumbled, sending off an ofc<3 before putting his phone in his locker and following the team out.

“Shark week? Do you mean her period?” Ushijima asked for clarification, and the way Hoshiumi’s pale face reddened was embarrassing, to say the least.

“Do you even know what to get her?” Hirugami asked, clearly teasing him with that tone.

Hoshiumi’s nose scrunched and he was about to start barking out a response when he was interrupted. Sometimes he felt like all these tall players forgot he was even there, and it annoyed him to no end.

“You should get chocolate. And ice cream, her favourite kind if you know it,” Kageyama said, looking weirdly proud of his knowledge. ‘If you know it’, obviously he knows it!

“Of course-”

“It’s not embarrassing to say period. You should not be ashamed about the natural cycle of a woman’s body.” Ushijima continued his earlier thought.

“I know that, she-”

“Some women are more into food on their period, like a proper full meal. My wife is that way, at least,” Romero added, only fuelling the fire because Hoshiumi knows what you like.

“You should probably ask her if she wants anything else.”

“And don’t get confused about the wings.”

Now Hoshiumi was definitely red, but it was more along the lines of hot-headed. “I know how to take care of my girlfriend!” he snapped before stomping off to start jogging around the court for warmup.

The audacity of these men acting like he doesn’t know you.

Hoshiumi kicked the door shut behind him, a plastic bag in one hand, a reusable tote bag in the other and his training bag slung over his shoulder. “I’m here, baby!”

He found you curled up under your duvet, and he knew there was a heating pad under there somewhere too. “Can you come cuddle, please? The sharks are killing me.”

First, he went to refill your water bottle with cold water and put it on your nightstand, always encouraging you to drink more when you felt ill. Then he put the ice cream away and prepared a little bowl with the rest of the snacks he got.

He also put the snacks on the nightstand before crawling under the duvet and curling around your back, face nuzzling into your neck and leaving little kisses. His hands found the heating pad, holding it against your stomach so your hands were free to grab any snacks you wanted.

“Let’s order food later, yeah?” he mumbled. Because of course he knew you hate asking for it and would rather have him encourage a cheat day.

“Yes!”

And the relief in your voice was more than enough to prove that being your boyfriend is the one thing he would always do best.

masterlist

[reasonsforhope]

"Spain’s Catalonia region rolled out a pioneering women’s health initiative [at the beginning of March, 2024] that offers reusable menstruation products for free.

About 2.5 million women, girls, transgender and nonbinary people who menstruate can receive one menstrual cup, one pair of underwear for periods and two packages of cloth pads at local pharmacies in northeast Spain free of charge.

The Catalan government said that the initiative, which is called “My period, my rules,” was meant to “guarantee the right to menstrual equity.” The regional government cited statistics that said 23% of women polled by Catalonia’s public opinion office said they had reused hygiene products designed for a single use for economic reasons.

Tània Verge, Catalonia’s regional minister for equality and feminism, called the program a “global first.”

Scotland’s government passed a law in 2020 to ensure period products are available for free to anyone who needs them. But in comparison with the Catalan program, in Scotland the products are for single use and are distributed through schools, colleges and universities, not pharmacies.

“We are fighting menstrual poverty, which affects one in four women in Catalonia, but is also about gender justice. We are fighting the stereotypes and taboos about menstruation,” Verge told The Associated Press. “And (...) it is about climate justice. We need to reduce the tons of waste generated by single-use menstrual products.”

The distribution of reusable products is also aimed at reducing waste. The regional government said that Catalonia produces about 9,000 tons of waste from single-use menstrual hygiene products.

The reusable products are acquired by the public health care system, which covers the entire population, and distributed by Catalonia’s 3,000-plus private pharmacies. The program cost the regional government 8.5 million euros ($9.2 million).

“I am completely in favor of this initiative,” 29-year-old graphic designer Laura Vilarasa said. “It will give women a product that is absolutely necessary to have for zero cost.”

Spain’s national government passed a law last year granting women with debilitating menstrual pain the right to paid medical leave."

-via AP News, March 5, 2024

[fractiousmink]

Ghost is making your period everyone’s problem. Not just the team, which they don’t even see it as a problem, those three are all delighted at any opportunity to take care of you, but everyone. The whole damn base. Spends most of the month basically ignoring you and the second you start bleeding? Wears his tac vest even when he doesn’t need it cause it’s filled with snacks, tea bags, pain meds, he’s got a rice filled stuffy that you microwave to heat up strapped to him. He buys you expensive period underwear and reusable pads, which he always has spares on him as well.

Which is great for you, but makes him INSUFFERABLE otherwise. Absolutely refuses to go to any meetings or training you can’t come with, or at least get to him “in case she needs anything”. Will not even consider just leaving the things you might need in your room or something sensible. Sends rookies and random sergeants off to get you a seat so you can sit by him as he runs drills, or to heat up your stuffy when the cramps get bad. And if you need something while he’s talking to another lieutenant or a commanding officer? Fully stops listening to them. Just flat ignores them until you’re squared away. Price absolutely encourages this behavior btw.

Gross period sex ranting below the cut

You cannot convince me that this man, however he is written, doesn’t have a blood kink. Even the sweetest, fluffiest incarnation of this man is a fucking fiend for period sex. Guilt free way of getting his dick covered in blood, maybe get you off for some pain relief? Sign him the fuck up. You and him don’t usually fuck, Soap meets most of his needs just fine, but for the 5 days you’re bleeding? No one else touches you.

Makes you drag your messy cunt all over his abs and thighs, loves the blood on his pale ass skin. Half the time her doesn’t even fuck you, just fingers you till you cry and then jerks himself off with your blood. You like your ghost mean? Don’t worry, he’d be so condescending while bullying your poor sore cervix. “Quit your whining pet, you and I both know you’ll feel better once you’ve come a few times. Now hush and let me deeper.” He’s so mean and acts like her doing you a favor even though he’s literally feral for your blood on his cock.

Sometimes, when you’re extra painful, basically crying as he holds you down, he pretends all the blood is from him taking your virginity. He’s so nasty it’s unreal.

[saaltco2024]

Is It Okay to Wear Two Different Cup or Disc Sizes During My Period?

If you’re new to the world of reusable period cups or menstrual discs, you might be wondering if it’s okay to use two different sizes during your cycle. The answer? Absolutely! In fact, many people find that alternating sizes works best for their unique needs. Here’s why and how it might work for you.

Understanding Your Menstrual Flow

Your period isn’t the same every day or even every cycle. For many people, the first few days tend to be heavier, while the flow tapers off towards the end. During those heavy days, you might prefer a larger cup or disc to handle more volume and reduce the frequency of emptying. On lighter days, a smaller size can feel more comfortable and provide just the right level of protection without being too bulky. Sometimes you may even want to switch between a period disc and menstrual cup. 

Your Anatomy Matters

Everyone’s body is different, and factors like cervix height and sensitivity can influence which size works best. Some people find that their cervix position changes throughout their cycle. A higher cervix might call for a bigger period cup or menstrual disc, while a lower cervix might feel better with a shorter or smaller size. By having two sizes on hand, you can adapt to what feels best as your body changes.

How to Choose Your Cup or Disc Size

Using two different cup or disc sizes during your period isn’t just okay—it can be a game-changer. It’s all about listening to your body and finding what works for you. Having options ensures you’re covered no matter what your cycle throws your way.

Learn: How to insert a menstrual cup?

Saalt is a sustainable period care brand working to support everyone who menstruates. They dedicate themselves to creating clean, high-performance products that are better for you and the planet. Their ethically made period cups and period underwear are for professional athletes, office workers, adventurers, and those new to their cycle. For a process that is natural and essential, Saalt offers something just as natural and straightforward.

Original Source

[atinylittlepain]

Make It Better - A Joel Miller Story

Joel Miller x f!reader/f!oc

Joel Miller masterlist

Menstruating in the midst of the apocalypse isn’t exactly a breeze. While Joel can be a real guy about her period, he's always up for helping ease her pain, in whatever way he can.

warnings | 18+ SMUT, period sex, enough said

a/n | this is entirely inspired by a post I saw today from @psychedelic-ink in search of some good, sweet period fics about Mr. Miller. Voila, folks.

Men have it so much easier in the apocalypse. This was a thought that had occurred to her monthly for the last twenty years. Everytime her period came, she found herself woefully unprepared. You would think that FEDRA would start mass producing pads or something, but obviously there were no women amongst the higher ups, because no such relief had ever come. She had figured out a number of tricks over the years, slicing up the military-issued socks to make reusable pads, keeping an eye out for old tampax boxes on runs with Joel. He’d always get flustered when she’d wave a lucky, smuggled box in his face, muttering something about not needing to know about that while she just grinned from ear to ear with the knowledge that she’d be set for the next month. She and Tess would give him endless shit for it, trying to outdo each other in making him blush amidst all their womanly talk. 

She missed Tess endlessly, but had quickly drawn Ellie into the challenge of freaking Joel out with talk of the very normal, very human thing that was menstruation. He at least tried to be a gentleman about it, while still being a total guy about it too, asking her if she was feeling ok when he knew hers was coming up, but also sometimes pulling the “you on the rag?” card when she was being particularly short with him. 

When they got to Jackson, and Maria hooked both her and Ellie up with diva cups, it had been a game changer. No more makeshift pads, no more scrounging for expired tampons. Finally, some damn relief from the conundrum that was menstruating during the end of the world. Since they had settled into the community, however, and her and Joel had been sharing a bit more than just each other’s platonic company, Joel’s seeming unease around the topic of her monthlies hadn’t really dissipated. 

He had actually jumped in shock when she showed him how the diva cup worked one night in their shared bathroom, a twisted look of horror on his features as she folded up the plastic contraption before letting it snap back into form. His words came out as an incredulous gasp when he finally spoke.

“You’re telling me that goes inside you, like that?” She had to bite back a laugh at his reaction. 

“Pretty sure I’ve had far more inside me very recently, Joel.” A brutal flush crept across his neck and face at that, leaving him a stammering mess as he quickly stumbled out of the bathroom. It was just too easy.

Another time, Joel had come home from a patrol shift to find her in the kitchen, boiling the diva cup to sanitize it before the next time. He had sweetly come up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and murmuring into her neck, asking what was for dinner. Then he got a good look at what was in the pot. That time, he had let out a yelp, tripping back on his feet and looking at her like she had grown a second head.

“Godammnit, woman. What the hell are you doing?” She had fixed him with a look, huffing at his big man-baby antics.

“Joel, I have to clean it somehow.” His eyes were wide, a terror-stricken look on his face.

“Not in the pans we eat out of though!” He didn’t seem convinced by her cajoling that it was perfectly sanitary and after that night, she never saw that pot again.

One thing they could agree on about all this, however, was period sex. First and foremost, Joel liked to feel needed, like he could give something to her, so it took little convincing to get him between her legs under the guise of helping ease her cramps. He hardly cared about the blood, and she thought he also didn’t mind how sensitive she got during that time of the month either. His only stipulation? That the diva cup came out before he got anywhere near her. 

As usual, her period had started the night before, always the middle of the month. She and Joel had been together for so long at this point that he could clock it pretty well, the next morning looking in the bathroom cabinet in the spot where she normally kept her diva cup before turning to look at her skeptically, his face still groggy with sleep. She had smirked at him around her toothbrush before wiping her mouth and fully looking at him.

“Yes, Joel? Do you have a question?” His brows shot up his forehead before settling back into a furrow, he cleared his throat.

“Is it um, is it–” She quirked a brow at his stumbling. He finally spit it out though.

“Is it– in there?” She couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out at his bashful look.

“You ask me the same thing every month and I give you the same answer every month. Yes, it’s in there.” His brow stayed furrowed as he rubbed the back of his neck, finally letting out a gruff hum before shuffling back into the bedroom. Some things never change. Why a man who had literally killed people with his bare hands couldn’t seem to get over the fact that she had a functioning uterus was beyond her, but damn, was it fun to watch him squirm.

She got home before him that night, having taken an earlier patrol shift. While she was certainly tough, having been out on the road for such a long time, she still got worn down by the requisite cramps that came every month and was currently in a world of hurt. She had once told Ellie that she’d trade all her non-essential organs for a bottle of midol. 

While not quite the same as painkillers, Maria had gifted her a bottle of peppermint oil for her cramps. Some of the women had been harvesting the wild plants and were beginning to distill them down for their medicinal properties, and apparently peppermint worked particularly well for pain. She took off her shirt and bra, not bothering to shuck off her pants before laying across their bed and rubbing some of the oil into her stomach, sighing at the instant relief that the cooling sensation brought. She let her eyes drift shut, enjoying the light tingling of the oil on her skin as well as the fresh scent of the peppermint, but was soon interrupted by the sound of heavy boots approaching the bedroom.

“Are you in– oh.” She cracked one eye open, taking in the sight of Joel standing over the bed, seemingly slack-jawed as he looked down at her. She couldn’t help but smile at him.

“Why does it smell like toothpaste in here?” She huffed at that, sitting up and handing him the bottle of peppermint oil.

“It’s for cramps, from Maria.” He looked at her then, and she was starting to feel warm at the way his gaze was wandering over her half-naked figure.

“You hurting?” She just shrugged, sighing as he stepped closer to let his fingertips skate along her collarbone. He leaned down to drop a kiss to her lips that she chased after to deepen, finally pulling away once they were both good and gasping for breath. Joel pressed his forehead to hers, his voice coming out hoarse.

“Can I help?” She grinned, gripping the hair at the nape of his neck and drawing her lips to his ear in a way that made him shudder.

“You sure can. But you better let me get up first. It’s still in there.” He was off her in a flash, hands up like he was surrendering to the period police. She couldn’t help the wicked laugh that came out as she jogged over to the bathroom to get fully undressed. She could hear him mumble after her retreating figure “fucking menace.”

Diva cup out, and towel in hand, she came back into the bedroom to find him shirtless, toeing off his boots and socks on the end of the bed. He paused in his movements when she stepped before him, completely bare. His face went totally slack as he took in the sight of her. Never gets old. He snapped himself out of it, swallowing thickly before looking up to her gaze.

“Lay yourself out for me, darlin.” His southern drawl was already getting slow and thick in a way that made her thighs clench. She did as he asked, laying down the towel before settling her hips over it and laying back against the pillows. He stood at the end of the bed, not taking his eyes off her as he peeled off his jeans. 

She had dipped one hand down to draw lazy strokes across her clit, already impossibly sensitive as his eyes bore down on her. She couldn’t help the whimper that ran through her throat when he slid his boxers off, his cock already hard as he crawled up onto the bed between her legs. Hovering over her, he rested one of his elbows by her temple as they met in an entirely sloppy kiss. They were both stubborn and it showed in the harsh tangle of tongues and scraping of teeth. He pulled away just for a moment to look down as his fingers dipped into her folds, drawing a long sweep up to her clit. She preened into his touch, hips already bucking up into his hand as he started to swirl his fingers around her clit.

“So worked up for me already, huh, pretty? Just need me to make you feel good, s’that it?” His voice was a low purr in her ear as he dipped his fingers down to her entrance. She whined as he started to thrust into her, his palm grinding against her clit in messy circles. 

“F-fuck, yes. Make me feel good, Joel. Wanna be good for you.” He dragged his lips up the arch of her neck, his murmurs sending vibrations through the tender skin.

“Always so good for me, darlin. Want you to come on my fingers, can you do that?” She was already embarrassingly close, clenching around his fingers with each thrust of his hand. All she could do was nod and bite back the shivering moans that were crawling up her throat. Joel dipped his head down to her chest, taking one of her peaked nipples into his hot mouth and she yelped out a broken curse at the feeling. There was a lewd pop when he pulled off her, resting his chin between the valley of her breasts as he watched her teeter over the edge of pleasure.

“Come for me, darlin. Show me how good it feels. Just let go.” The pleasure snapped in a jagged blur as she clamped down around his fingers, her hips jerking up into his hold. He worked her through it until she was starting to squirm in his hand, finally pulling his fingers away and wiping them off on the towel beneath her. 

She pulled him in by his neck for another kiss, her other hand sweeping down between them to palm at his throbbing hardness. He hissed into her mouth as her thumb swiped over his tip, smearing pre-cum down the length of him before lining him up with her entrance. 

“Want you, Joel. Wanna feel you, please.” He groaned into her neck before pressing his hips forward, both of them letting out broken sighs when his hips settled flush with hers. She drew one leg up, her knee hitching at his waist as he rolled his hips back before thrusting into her in one harsh stroke, quickly finding a pace that had her gasping out his name. 

“S’right, pretty. Keep saying my name– fuck– s’me who’s making you feel so good, huh?” She let out a whimpered “yes” to his question, her nails finding purchase in the tense muscles of his back. The pleasure was already starting to pool sure and heady at the base of her spine, her cunt fluttering around his thick length with each thrust. Joel seemed to notice, bringing his hand down between them to draw heavy sweeps across her clit. Her hips bucked at the sensation, a clipped cry bubbling from her throat. Joel’s eyes were fierce as he watched her crumpled expression of pleasure.

“Think you got one more for me, darlin. Be good for me. Come for me– fuck– need to feel you.” With a cry of his name she fell over the edge of pleasure again, spasming around his dick as he fucked her through the simmering throb. He wasn’t far behind, pulling out only to stroke himself a few times before he was releasing over her stomach. 

He hunched over her, his breath smearing across her collarbones as she lightly dragged her nails up and down his back, both of them trying to calm their racing pulses. Joel finally looked up at her, pressing a chaste kiss to the corner of her mouth that drew a grin from her.

“That feel better, darlin?” 

“Much better, but we really need a shower now.”

They showered together, and it was sweet, all tender touches and soft smiles. But she couldn’t help herself when they got out, wrapping her towel around her body and grabbing the diva cup, waving it in Joel’s face. 

“You wanna see how it’s done, Miller?” He visibly blanched at her words, already shuffling out of the bathroom as he muttered a few words.

“Nope. No, ma’am.”

[violetsandshrikes]

Having talked a little about period poverty recently:

This project is aiming to reach a NZD $1000 goal (USD $605.70) for reusable menstrual pads (+ learning/teaching how to sew them) for school-aged girls in Masaka, Uganda. At the time of posting, the fund is already at $401.

Providing menstrual supplies helps combat stigma around menstruation, and also helps young women continue to attend school (and not have to be continually absent or drop-out due to lack of access!)

[lemmebe7]

Experience comfort during your period with Lemme Be's BAEsic cup – the best reusable menstrual cup for a rash-free, smooth day. Say goodbye to discomfort!

[metalnecklace]

Be Good To Me

Pairing: Joel Miller x Reader (plus size)

Words: 3899

Summary: Periods are awful, and sometimes Joel loves taking care of people.

Warnings: Slight age gap (Reader is somewhere in her late thirties/early forties, old enough to have had a period for a while before the outbreak, Joel is his age after the series), Blood, Periods, Pain related to periods, Doctors failing people with reproductive organs, Fatphobia because doctors suck, Reader is afab, Allusions to smut, Hurt/Comfort, Joel is an asshole until he isn’t.

Notes: This is barely edited, my period is late and my hormones are going nuts so this is totally for me. Also periods suck, so so bad. This may not be everyone’s experience with them but mine are absolutely awful (yay PCOS), so yeah!

Masterlist

Periods before the outbreak were no walk in the park. Women’s health wasn’t viewed as something that needed to be looked at too closely by professionals, so when my period was too heavy and too painful the only prescription I was given was the advice to lose weight.

That didn’t happen.

In fact, even once the outbreak happened and food became scarce I still didn’t lose weight. I believed it was the stress, but there was no way of knowing. However, one good thing about the malnourishment was the absence of a period.

I still got one, from time to time. And it sucked. It always caught me by surprise and was either extremely light and barely noticeable, or it felt like I had been hit by a truck and left an unreal crime scene behind.

I took what I got in stride, though. I was okay only having one every once in a while instead of the monthly horror that I had been living through before. It was bad enough to have to survive through the outbreak, let alone bleeding along the way.

Things changed once I reached Jackson. I was introduced to regular meals, less stress, a routine, a schedule, a roof over my head, and reusable period products. Fabric sewn together made pads that I could wash and reuse over and over, and a diva cup helped when I needed that extra protection. Especially if I left my house.

Because once I was more at home, my period came back. It came back hard.

It was still monthly, though the only thing that let me know it was coming was the hurricane of mood swings that took over me days before. When they were happening my cramps were usually so bad that I was bedridden, and the bleeding was so heavy I couldn’t leave the house unless absolutely necessary.

I had spoken to Maria about it when it first happened and I found myself doubled over in pain during mealtime. She helped me get comfortable back at home, and listened to my complaining until I fell asleep on my couch. Although her periods weren’t nearly as bad, she still held sympathy and allowed me to rest when I needed it.

I usually only needed rest for the first two days, although sometimes the cramps lingered into three. Maria was the only one who knew why there were days I couldn’t leave the house, and we kept it that way. Most people understood, some didn’t.

Joel Miller was one of the ones that didn’t.

To him, work was work. No matter the pain you were in or the comfort you lacked. You were there to help everybody. He was especially pissy on the days he had to help pick up my slack on patrols or cleaning out the horses, and he was usually the one who stepped in because Maria knew he wouldn’t say no to her.

This carried on when we were stuck on patrols together. He usually grumbled about how hard some people work, and how he never had patience for slackers. Though, I never slacked while on the job, especially around him. It was almost like I felt I needed to make it up, and that I needed to prove I could work just as hard as anybody else. That was a habit that I carried with me from before the outbreak.

One day we were patrolling further away from Jackson than I had liked. My moods had been awful, and I knew what that meant. I made sure to wear a liner and pack some pads with me for the day, knowing that the storm cloud that hovered over me was an omen for what was inevitable. I didn’t want to have to leave patrol early because I was ill prepared, and Joel didn’t need one more thing to dislike me for.

Unfortunately, the cramping started once we reached the end of our patrol route. I was glad we were heading back, but it was still at least an hour ride home. Plus, having period cramps while riding a horse was not pleasant. Still, no matter how much the pain started to creep in, I kept it together.

Until we came across an infected. They came out of nowhere, and usually I would have been able to hear them but I was so focused on getting home that I didn’t.

Joel was knocked from his horse, and it took me too long to get my gun locked on the target. Luckily it took two shots for the thing to drop dead, and Joel’s horse was only spooked. He was also okay, other than a slight limp that I wasn’t convinced he didn’t have before that day, but he was angry. Extremely angry.

“What the fuck, (Y/N)?” He barked at me. “You know I can’t hear as well on that side! Pay attention next time. You’re fuckin’ lucky it didn’t get me.”

I just nodded, still sitting atop my horse, feeling a knot form in the pit of my stomach. My eyes started to prickle and I pressed my lips shut to stop them from trembling. The last thing I needed was for Joel to see me crying just because he was scolding me, and rightfully so. I fucked up, he could’ve died, all because my body sucked.

He climbed back on his horse, turning in his saddle so he could see me. “Don’t you have anythin’ to say? Or are you just gonna sit there.”

“I’m s-sorry, J-Joel,” I stuttered out, feeling the knot rise from my stomach into my chest, then into my throat. “I’ll pay attention.”

He shook his head, and turned back forward. We rode the rest of the way home in complete silence. I didn’t dare move a muscle, and even my tears fell silently down my cheeks. My jaw ached and a headache was forming from holding back my grief, all while the pain from my abdomen bloomed throughout my lower body. I still listened for any other dangers on our path, but mostly kept my eyes glued to the stony shoulders in front of me.

When we finally arrived back in Jackson I felt like crying from relief. Then frustration, as I thought I was being ridiculous. That was usually how my moods went though, from pure anger to extreme sensitivity when my period actually started. It didn’t help that I would’ve been upset anyway from fucking up, especially when Joel had come that close to dying. But I wouldn’t have even been distracted if it wasn’t for my period to begin with.

Maria was at the stables when we arrived, and I could tell by her face that she knew something had happened.

“Did everything go okay?” She asked anyway.

“Fine,” Joel grunted. “Only one infected, it’s dealt with.”

Maria’s eyebrows twitched up. “Why does it feel like it wasn’t fine?”

I didn’t even get a chance to say anything as Joel got off his horse and marched toward her.

“Next time don’t pair me with someone who’s going to get me killed.” He started toward the barn, his horse leading behind him.

Maria looked at me, and I’m sure she noticed the look of pure discomfort on my face. “Shit. You should get home, (Y/N).”

“Her? What about me?” Joel whipped around, his face reddening. “I’m the one who got pushed off a goddamn horse, and nearly bit!”

“Joel, cool it!” Maria countered, rounding on him. “Mind your fucking business and put the horses away.”

I got down onto the ground and Maria reached out for my reins, then handed them to Joel who grumbled as he marched into the barn. Maria turned back to me with a look of pure concern on her face.

“You alright?”

I nodded sheepishly. “I will be. I just feel awful. He could’ve died and it’s all my fault.”

She stepped toward me and placed a hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay. Things happen, and he isn’t dead. You’re both here and you’re both okay. Why don’t you go home and get some rest? I’ve got your patrols covered for the next two days.”

“Okay. Thank you, Maria.” I smiled but felt tears brim my eyes.

I made my way to my home, and once I was there I let the floodgates open. I had heard about ugly crying, and didn’t experience it until my parents had been taken from me at the start of the outbreak. However, when I got home from that patrol I couldn’t stop the sobs from escaping my chest.

I was grateful for the hot water in Jackson as I sat in the shower and let the water cascade down my aching body. Blood swirled in the drain and I averted my eyes, not wanting a reminder of why I was so upset. The cramps had fully settled in however, and no matter how hot, the water wasn’t enough. I eventually had to get out, and I utilized my period products to their fullest.

Once I had comfier clothes on I buried myself under blankets on my bed. Luckily sleep pulled me under, giving respite from the cramps climbing my abdomen and reaching down my inner thighs.

Sleep was the only time I wasn’t in pain, and it was like my body was so exhausted that nothing could wake me. Except for a knock at the door.

I groaned but climbed out of bed, wrapping a blanket around my shoulders like a cape. I was about to tell the unwanted visitor to go away but was rendered speechless when I saw Joel on the other side of the door.

“What do you want?” I was no longer upset, too groggy from sleep.

He sighed as if it pained him to be there. “I came to apologize. I was a complete ass, and I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, Joel,” I said through a yawn, knuckling at one of my eyes. “I fucked up, I deserved to be scolded, okay?”

“Yeah, but we all fuck up.” He stepped forward, his voice soothing for the first time when speaking with me. “Hell, I know I’ve fucked up many times.”

A cramp pierced its way through my lower abdomen, and I tried my hardest not to show it. “Well, thanks, Joel, for apologizing. I know that’s not easy. I’ll let you get back to your day.”

I stepped back to close the door but he stepped forward, placing his wide palm on the wood to stop it from closing. “(Y/N), are you okay?”

“Never better,” I gritted out through my teeth as another cramp bloomed through my lower back. “I just need some rest, is all.”

“I know you’re lying,” his voice was gruff but the concern shone through his dark eyes. “Here, let me help you.”

Joel pushed his way into my house, closing the door behind him. We had been alone on patrols before, even while doing odd jobs, but they were done in silence while focused on the task. This was a whole different beast. He stood in my entryway, my decor seeming odd as a background for him, while he stared me down, willing me to break.

“Joel, it’s fine. Maria is aware of how I’m feeling,” I assured him, pulling the blanket tighter around my body. “I just need some rest, then I’ll be back to working rounds and shoveling shit, okay?”

He shook his head. “(Y/N), I know Maria knows, but I don’t. Please, what’s wrong? Are you sick?”

I winced at a smaller cramp that burrowed into my body. “Kinda, just leave, Joel.”

“I’m not leaving until you tell me,” he said. He was standing firm, like a brick wall.

I sighed, admitting defeat. “Fine! It’s my period, okay?” My cheeks burned at the embarrassment of my admittance.

“What? I don’t understand.” His brows knit together, and he would’ve looked adorable if I wasn’t so frustrated.

“Of course you wouldn’t understand,” I grumbled. “You’re a man. You don’t have to deal with this bullshit.”

“I know, I’m sorry.” He held his hands up as if I was a rabid dog about to charge. “I just mean that I don’t know enough about them, that’s all.”

I rolled my eyes and turned to go to the kitchen. I wasn’t usually a drinker but sometimes the circumstances called for it. Joel was silent as I poured us both glasses of whiskey, and only broke it once I had settled with my drink.

“My daughter, Sarah, had just started before…” he trailed off. “I always wanted to learn more, and had only started to, a bit. Her mother never told me a thing about them, and I didn’t think I’d be a single father at the time. I was naive and should’ve put more effort in, maybe.”

I took a sip, letting the liquid soothe my throat.

“I was with someone, a few years ago, but she never wanted to tell me about that stuff. She put on a brave face and never wanted to show weakness. And Ellie,” he chuckled, “Ellie threatened to skin me alive the last time I asked her about it.”

I laughed, thinking about the daggers the kid could probably shoot from her eyes if she tried hard enough.

“All this to say, I’m an old man, but I can still learn.” He downed his drink and placed his glass on the counter. “I know I’ve been… unhelpful, when it comes to you needin’ time, but I just didn’t know.”

He stepped forward, taking the glass from my hand and placing it next to his. His hands then came up to mine, rubbing the backs with his thumbs. My heart caught in my throat, feeling warmer than I had in the shower.

“Will you let me know? The next time?” He asked, his voice sending vibrations through my fingertips. “Will you let me help you? Let me take care of you?”

I thought about his question. As much as I didn’t want to be a burden, and didn’t need anybody to take care of me, really, the idea of Joel being the one was too appealing. I had always felt a pull toward him that I never had with anybody else, but was too ashamed, feeling like he hated me for needing the breaks I did. Like I was a freeloader.

It was no use letting my thoughts surround him in the past. But this time…

“Okay, Joel. I’d really like that.”

-

A few months passed with him doing just that. Taking care of me.

Joel always seemed to know when I was about to start, probably because of the way I threatened to break everything I touched for a solid three days before, and he always had the best snacks for me. He usually stayed as long as he could before having to start patrol or whatever other chore he had to partake in.

It was like we were in sync, like the second I started he would be knocking at the door with a snack and ready to deal with my whining.

“Ellie recommended chocolate, and lots of it,” he said once when I asked him how he knew what to bring. “Maria also suggested tea but I wasn’t sure if you liked it or not.”

“I like tea,” I replied, after thinking on it. “Depending, anyway. I used to drink this cinnamon tea with lots of honey whenever I needed extra comfort. My parents would always make it for me.”

The next time my period hit, he arrived at the door holding cinnamon tea and a jar of honey.

“Joel!” I stood in front of him in shock, a tug in my heart at the gesture. “How did you get this?”

He shrugged. “I have my ways.”

He also made sure that I wasn’t bothered by anybody else whenever it came to needing a few days off. One guy made a comment about it once after Maria let me leave the barn early one day, but one look from Joel shut him right up.

“You don’t have to do that, you know,” I said after the incident. “I’m used to some people being dicks. Like you used to be.”

“Yeah, but I’m not easy to deal with,” he grumbled. “I don’t want any other assholes bothering you.”

“Just you?”

He laughed. “Yeah, just me, sweetheart.”

That was another thing. The names. Mostly sweetheart, or darling. The latter always made me smile, with the way his drawl would cut off the last letter. The former always stoked a fire deep in my chest, spreading warmth through my bones.

One day my period hit me like a ton of bricks. It had been about a week later than usual, and it was like it needed the momentum. It came in the morning, which I was grateful for as I laid in bed clutching my stomach, since it didn’t catch me when I was already out. I had showered after waking and seeing the blood on my liner, and was ready to spend the day under the covers.

After a few hours of falling in and out of sleep I heard my door open. I stayed where I was, knowing it was just Joel letting himself in. He didn’t bother calling my name, already knowing where I was. It took a few minutes for him to finally enter my room, not making much sound except for his soft footsteps and the small thud of the hot mug of tea I knew he had just brewed as he placed it on my bedside table.

I heard him start to leave, probably wanting me to get as much rest as possible, but I wanted something else.

“Joel?” I croaked, using my voice for the first time that morning while poking my head out from under the blankets.

He stopped and turned back. “Yes, darlin’?”

I smiled. “Could you stay?”

He smiled back. “Of course, I’ll just grab a chair.”

He turned to leave again but I called his name. “I mean, stay with me?”

The tension rose in the room, threading itself through the silence. He was confused, I wasn’t making any sense. I also felt extremely nervous.

“I don’t think I know what you mean,” he walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. His hand reached out to a lump under the blankets that resembled my leg, and he massaged my calf with his thumb. “You don’t want me to get a chair, but you want me to stay.”

Then I realized. He knew what I wanted, but wanted me to say it. The smirk that spread on his lips confirmed it for me.

“Joel, please. Stay in bed with me.”

“Since you asked so nicely.” He smiled and stretched himself out beside me.

I felt myself growing bolder. “No pants allowed, though. Only comfort.”

After a moment of silence where I thought maybe I had gone too far, crossed some sort of line, he sighed and stripped off his jeans. He looked at me as if to say ‘happy now?’ and I giggled before wrapping the blankets around him.

“Is this okay?” I asked while scooting closer to him.

He slipped his arm under my head and pulled me closer until I had my head on his chest and my arm and leg draped over his torso. I pulled my lower body away from him.

“Sorry, was that too close?” He asked.

“No, I just don’t want to leak on you or anything. I don’t know how heavy it is this time.”

Joel chuckled. “I’ve had enough blood on me over the years that I really don’t care about yours. Come on.”

He pulled me closer once again, until one of his thighs slotted between my legs. My body melted against his and we both sighed as if finally feeling relaxed for the first time in who knows how long.

We laid like that, his hand tracing patterns on my back, while I smoothed my thumb over his ribs. Finally I pulled back a bit so I could look up into his face.

“Thank you, Joel,” I said. “For taking care of me.”

He smiled, his eyes softening even further. “Someone had to.”

I wrinkled my nose and he copied me, causing me to laugh. “I can take care of myself, you know.”

“I know. But you don’t have to.”

The laughter died in my chest, replacing itself with a heat that spread through my body. A tension rose in the few inches of space between us as he lowered his head.

With nothing but pure bravery, I lifted my head.

Our lips met gently, sponging together. I felt the air leave my body, and I pulled myself even closer to him. He moaned softly, gripping onto my thigh and deepening the kiss.

It was like we were starved. Starved for each other. He drank me in as our tongues massaged against each other and our fingers gripped us closer. I never wanted it to end, but a cramp sliced into me, causing me to pull away and groan against his heaving chest.

“Oh fuck, sweetheart, you alright?”

I nodded, whimpering.

“Here,” he started helping me flip my body over, “this will feel better.”

I maneuvered myself until my back was plastered against his front. My body melted once more into him, as his arm wrapped around my middle. His hand was a welcome weight against where the cramps were aching the most.

“But I want kisses,” I whined, feeling like a child not getting their way.

He laughed and pressed his lips to my neck, trailing them down to my shoulder. I moaned as he continued smudging them along my skin, mixing between soft kisses and small licks of his tongue. My body writhed under his grip until my ass pressed back into the hardness of his crotch.

“Calm down there, darlin’,” he warned, placing a final kiss just behind my ear. “There’ll be plenty of time for that when you’re up for it. Just rest for now.”

“Fine.” I wasn’t happy stopping, but felt good having him with me. “Can I put your hand on my stomach?”

He slipped his hand to mine, letting me move him around. “Of course. I’m all yours.”

I held his hand and pushed it up, under my shirt. I placed it onto my abdomen. When I pulled my hand away he kept his there, splaying it out so some of his fingers were tucked beneath my breasts and his palm was like the perfect heating pad.

We sighed once more together, and I promptly fell asleep. When I woke up he was still there, snoring softly in my ear. He stirred when I twisted in his arms until we were tangled up face to face once more.

“Don’t you have work today?” I asked, my voice thick with sleep.

He didn’t even open his eyes. “Nope. Got someone to cover me so I could take care of my girl.”

I smiled and nuzzled my face into his chest, inhaling his scent. Sleep crept up on me once more, and the cramps dulled away.

I was ready to stay in that bed forever, even through all the pain, as long as I had Joel with me.

———

Taglist: @sullyosully @ashleymsnodgrass

[artfullheart]

Laundry Tips

I've been meaning to make an extensive list of tips as someone who worked in a laundromat. Some basics and a few things I noticed not many people know. This is also coming from someone who learned to take care of my clothes early on to save money cause we're all broke here, so these tips also save you money:

•If you're not sure how to separate colors, have 2 piles, lights and darks/brights. Obviously black clothes and bright colors like red or yellow should be separate from whites. But when you get any color clothing that's not a light color, or if you're not sure if it counts as "light", take a corner of the item and run it under warm water, then squeeze the water out and check if the water comes out with dye. If it does there's a high chance it will bleed dye on your clothes, so wash it with the darks.

•You do not need brand laundry detergent. Any laundry detergent will do. I experimented with a few brands and all brands cleaned just fine. Just know, if you use powder detergent, check the instructions because most have to be used with warm or hot water.

•Don't use that much soap. You're using too much. More soap doesn't mean more clean, the measurements on the container are made to be the exact amount you need. More soap means the machine has to work harder to rinse it out and you get soap residue more than likely, which can make you itchy or make allergies worse.

•You don't really need to wash anything in hot water regularly. Cold water is fine for most things, and makes your clothes last longer. You only really need hot water for things you clean less frequently or things that need disinfecting, like pillows, bath rugs, and comforters.

•With things that need disinfecting like bath rugs, pet blankets, reusable period pads/undies, and soiled sheets, use half a cup of hydrogen peroxide in the bleach tray. It's a color safe bleach so you can add it to any color item. For items that stink, like pet items or workout gear, add half a cup of vinegar instead of softener. It works better than the expensive "sport" detergent. Even on urine smells. I got this tip from a nurse that works in a hospice.

•To be honest, softener is unnecessary. You can soften clothes with half a cup of vinegar in the softener tray. You won't smell it once it's washed, in case you're worried about that. Softener is terrible for clothes, it actually ads a coating to fabric so if an item is supposed to pull sweat from your body, like workout gear, towels, or summer clothing, it looses the ability with just a couple washes with softener. And fire resistant clothing like baby clothes will lose the ability if washed with softener.

•If it's the smell you want, I recommend wool dryer balls. They help dry your clothes better anyway. But for scented clothes, add like 5 drops of any essential oil to a couple of them, or dip them in a hydrosol like rose water for a bit and then toss them in the dryer. I've heard people do this with perfume too, but I've never tried it.

•Treating stains is easier if you do it as soon as it happens. Or as soon as you get home. If you can't wash it right away, put a couple drops of laundry soap on the stain and dab it into the stain with a damp cloth, or use a stain spray if you have one. If the stain is cooking oil, hair products, or any type of grease, put a couple drops of Dawn dish soap on it. There's a reason they use it for oil spills. Just don't add any to your washing machine, it can cause the machine to suds up too much and break it. When you wash the item, check if the stain came out. If not, air dry it. Heat sets in stains so drying it in a machine will make the stain impossible to remove.

•If you have the space please air dry your clothes in the sun. Please. It's so good. It makes your clothes smell great, makes them last longer, helps remove stains, and brightens whites like bleach never could. I live in an apartment but I hang clothes next to the window in the spring/summer and its so good.

-Clothing labels lie. Here's a breakdown of what needs special care and what doesn't:

•Wool and silk are cold wash only. Hand wash if you can, but if you must machine wash, use cold ONLY. Use a delicate setting if your washer has one. It should be air dried. Get a drying rack. If you absolutely cannot air dry, dry wool clothing on cold/delicate for 10 minutes at a time until it's barely damp, then leave it open on your bed/couch or over a chair. Do not dry silk. It's expensive, why would you ruin it. Hang it on a hanger and hook it over your door if you have nowhere else to hang it. It dries quickly.

•Cotton can be washed any temp, but everything lasts longer in cold wash. Dry on normal, only dry on high if the item needs disinfecting or if the item is thick, like a pillow, bath rug, or comforter.

•Linen is indestructible. Linen is stonewashed to soften it, which means people put the fabric in large washing machines filled with rocks to beat it so it softens. Wash on high and dry on high to soften it more if the item is stiff, but a cold wash and normal dry is fine otherwise.

•Synthetics like polyester, acrylic, nylon, etc. are best washed cold and dried on normal/warm. More delicate items like thin blouses, stockings, and anything with lace is best air dried, but can be dried on cold/delicate if necessary. Synthetic clothes are more prone to staining so treat stains as soon as they happen.

•SOME dry clean only clothing is fine in the washer, but I'd say dry clean it if you're not sure. If it's an item with no lining it's usually fine, but always air dry these. Dresses, blouses or skirts with stiff linings will lose their shape in the washer. Easiest way to tell, if you turn a dry clean item inside out and there's a white paper like fabric lining certain areas it can't be machine washed. That's a stabilizer/interfacing and it will get ruined. Always dry clean suit jackets, coats, and anything labeled dry clean that's filled with feathers. Some suit pants can be machine washed, but make sure it doesn't have any interfacing. If a dry clean item has lots of colors on it, like a multicolored shirt, or a black dress with a white collar, dry clean it. It will get ruined otherwise.

__________________

I think that's everything, but if anyone has any questions, especially for doing laundry with a disability/low spoons, ask on this post or in the tags. My inbox seems to swallow messages but I'll keep checking this post.

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

WIBTA if I donated a package of menstrual pads that have been opened?

Hewwo

❓️❓️ to find later

(Mild TW for tangential period mention, nothing graphic or directly related)

I bought myself a huge pack of menstrual pads, thinking "huh higher number mean more absorbancy right". Hey protip this isn't accurate 🥲

Basically I now have a huge package (like, 47/48pack) of pads that don't fit in my underwear. And when I mean huge, I mean like instead of pads with wings these things are a frackin Seraphim Pads, with multiple sets that don't actually like. Stick where I want wings to be.

It feels like a colossal waste to keep this package, just waiting for the adhesive to expire, until I eventually have to throw them out. I had the thought of donating them to a local food bank/homeless shelter, along with foods/water/men's shirts/socks/stuff that's not often donated but there's a need for. But I worried that it would be seen as shitty, or like the people that donate used/mostly unusable clothing because the package was opened, despite having only used one.

(Option B is something I've been considering as well- making like, Homelessness Care Packages basically, with like a reusable waterbottle, wet wipes, deodorant, toothbrush/paste, a couple bucks, bandaids and maybe socks or something, and adding the pads into it. BTW, input on what to have in one of these Care Packages would be greatly appreciated :) )

What are these acronyms?