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This season, we’re celebrating gifts that do more than sit under a tree — they soothe, uplift, sparkle with purpose, and remind us that giving can be an act of healing. Our December Cancer Bites Gift Guide highlights brands that pour heart into every product and generosity into every purchase. These items bring comfort, inspiration, advocacy, and a little joy to anyone navigating the holidays, especially those touched by cancer.
From thoughtful keepsakes to feel-good essentials, each feature in this guide supports a cause that matters and a community we love. Some brands have shared exclusive promo codes for our readers, others are donating a portion of proceeds to Cancer Bites, and a few links may be affiliate-based — all chosen with intention and transparency.
Please remember: everything included here is editorial and meant for general information only. It is not medical advice. Pricing, promotions, and offerings may change.
If you missed November's Gift Guide check it out here
Where To Find Cancer Bites Podcast and Community: You can find Cancer Bites on our website: https://growingtogive.org/cancer-bites-podcast, Instagram @cancerbitespodcast, on X @cancerbitesshow, on Facebook @cancerbitespodcast, and on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@growingtogive/playlists
Tired of having dry, itchy skin, especially in the winter months? Try the moisturizers from Gleem Beauty Skincare’s Moisture Round-the-Clock Kit (shown above) which includes the One & Done Day Moisturizer and Soft Immersion Night Cream. The company’s unique IASC certified aloe-based formulas offer products that can penetrate deeply into the skin and form protective skin barriers to lock in moisture. Gleem Skincare formulas are paraben free, sulfate free, and vegan. The company is dedicated to missions of sustainability—taking care to use minimal packaging and to create products in small batches to reduce waste and ensure freshness and effectiveness—and supporting breast cancer research and resources.
Inspired By: Gleem Beauty Skincare Founder and CEO Marlene Wallach is a breast cancer victor. She battled breast cancer at the age of 40, developed an aloe vera based skincare line for her skin during that period of her life and now uses her company to support and promote breast cancer research and resources.
Siobhan’s Review: We interviewed Marlene on Cancer Bites, and I actually talked about how marvelous Gleem truly is. When the box of Gleem Beauty products arrived at my door, I was enthralled — it gleems. It’s this beautiful little iridescent package that our breast cancer patients and survivors will receive in their Comfort and Joy gift bags, and it instantly feels special.
The Soft Immersion Night Cream has become my absolute go-to. Living in the desert, I wake up with skin that feels dry, tight, and honestly like the skin of the Geckos that scurry around the desert landscape. Even after using countless night creams over the years once I started using Gleem, everything changed. Every morning, I wake up and touch my cheeks because I genuinely can’t believe how soft my skin feels.
I’m on chemo pills right now — not IV, but they hit your body and your skin just the same. When I came home from the hospital, I hadn’t been using any products at all, and my skin showed it. I looked gray, pale, and tired. I didn’t feel like myself. Gleem gave me that back. Now when people see me — neighbors who haven’t seen me in months — they say, “Wait… I thought you had breast cancer? You look great!”
Instead of looking worn down, I’m gleeming. And that’s entirely because of Gleem.
Watch Cancer Bites Podcast with Marlene Wallach, CEO of Gleem.
Gifts That Give Back: Gleem Skincare offers financial aid to breast cancer organizations and also donates products to a variety of fundraisers. They believe that the war against breast cancer can be fought by helping one woman at a time. They have also graciously donated to this year’s Cancer Bites gift bags thanks to the kindness of Jeffery Hoffman. Those who purchase the Round the Clock Kit or any item on GleemBeauty.com can use code "PINK20" for 20% off, and if that code is used, Gleem will also donate 20% of those proceeds to Cancer Bites through our non profit, GrowingtoGive.org. (And until it changes please note: the promo code is valid on regular-priced items only and excludes sale items and BOGOs.)
Retail Price: Gleem Beauty products retail between $50-185. The Moisture Round-the-Clock Kit retails for $175, use code “PINK20” for 20% off. The One & Done Day Moisturizer and Soft Immersion Night Cream can be individually bought for $90 and $85, respectively.
Where To Find Them: You can find Gleem Beauty Skincare’s products on their WEBSITE
Why We Love It: Light weight, eco-friendly, woman and breast cancer survivor-led.
Second on our list is ScrubzBody, a skincare company specializing in high-quality sugar scrubs! There are all kinds of scent combinations, from the classics to the new and exciting. Try cherry almond burst, coconut milk, lavender, and more! Besides scrubs, there are also lip balms, lotions, and so much more. Best of all, their products use 100% active ingredients and are lovingly packaged by hand. ScrubzBody is all about the customer and ensuring that no one has to put up with skincare that never delivers or harms your skin.
Inspired By: Founder and Owner of ScrubzBody Skincare, Roberta Perry, says: “It was 2005. I was 43, but my skin felt 20 years older. It was dry, itchy, and irritated, so I knew something had to change when a droplet of blood fell on my work document because I had itched my elbow so hard. I finally discovered exfoliating products, but there were different types, so I tried about 15 brands. I became like Goldilocks, the curly blond-haired girl who tried all the chairs, beds, and porridge and finally found what she liked. In this case, none satisfied me, so I decided to make it myself. I researched botanical oils and various exfoliants. I mixed up different combinations and tested batch after batch until I found something I loved. My late sister, Michelle, joined me, and in 2006, we started ScrubzBody Skincare Products.
While it's true we sell skincare, made by hand with skin-loving ingredients, we offer our customers permission for self-love, self-care, and pampering. That's the part of the business I love the most. We have incredible retail customers, private-label, and select wholesale clients. We host "Make Your Own" Scrubz parties for kids and adults at the store. We were thrilled to have been the highlighted business on the Season One finale of Sell It Like Serhant on Bravo TV with Ryan Serhant of Bravo and Netflix fame.”
Siobhan’s Review: The first thing that caught my attention when I opened the box from ScrubzBody was the burst of color shining through the clear containers — royal purple, magenta, caramel, mandarin orange. Before I could even start exploring, John wandered by, asked what they were, and immediately began opening each one to smell them. I watched him sort them into two piles: his “keepers,” which he confidently declared were the ones he wanted to try. I gently mentioned that we had so many because Roberta donated them to the Comfort and Joy Gift Bag campaign… but he was already fully committed to his selections.
I love the little Cubez Cubed Scrub too, and of course, I tried them on my feet and hands right away. My rough bits instantly felt smoother, and the Oilz+Plus lotion (really a balm in a bottle) I used on my arms and legs before bed — and again before running errands — left my skin soft and smelling so good I was basically following myself around the store.
My entire body got a Scrubz Sugar Scrub treatment in their warm vanilla scent, and it’s so real I genuinely felt like I’d been dipped in vanilla icing.
Recently, Stacey and I got to speak with Roberta about her brand and we will be sharing some of that conversation in bite sized clips soon on our socials and Youtube. Follow our socials, and subscribe to our YouTube and Spotify channels listed at the end of the guide. We also will have a very cool surprise for you as the new year settles in.
Please don’t tell John I mixed up his little piles of favorites. He won’t be keeping them. Maybe one will make it into his Christmas stocking as caregivers certainly deserve gifts of comfort.
Gifts That Give Back: Every year, ScrubzBody pours love back into the community, and Roberta shared how she personally chooses organizations and events that align with the heart of the brand. We’re grateful she chose us this season — and she sent more than enough goodies to make our gift bags extra special.
I joked that now that I have her number, I’ll be calling every year… but she may have topped that with something even better. You’ll see!
Retail Price: Each sugar scrub retails for $28 for a 9 oz jar and $38 for a 18 oz jar.
Where to Find Them: You can find ScrubzBody Skincare’s products on their WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Natural, self-care, customer-focused, ethically-sourced ingredients.
Each Packed with Purpose gift basket is sourced from 140+ partners that make a social and/or environmental impact, meaning that each purchase is supporting a business system rooted in impact and not profit. The gift baskets contain all sorts of delicious snacks from smooth chocolate to homestyle cookies to crunchy chips. They offer all sorts of options on their site with so much variety, so there is something there for everyone! Our recommendations are the Relax & Unwind Care Package—perfect for anyone indulging in a little selfcare—and the Make Them Smile Gift Basket—a colorful assortment of snacks that supports ovarian cancer screenings and other charitable causes.
Inspired By: Packed with Purpose began with a powerful question: what if every gift could create real good? Its founder, fueled by years in CSR and life-changing time in the Peace Corps, Leeatt Rothschild, saw how gifts could be more than “stuff”—they could spark opportunity, dignity, and deeper connection.
From that spark came a woman-owned, Certified B Corp built on one belief: a gift should deliver joy and positive impact long after the box is opened.
Siobhan’s Review: Packed With Purpose is exactly the kind of cheerleader you want in your corner during one of life’s tougher seasons—or standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the caregivers who carry you through them. When the boxes arrived, they were filled with all the right comforts: chocolate, salted pretzels, popcorn, cookies, warm peach tea and honey… the kind of goodness that softens a hard day.
We received both boxes we recommend above, which turned out to be a blessing because John—my #1 taste-tester and caregiver—immediately claimed them like a miner eyeing a fresh gold vein. He discovered the sour gummies first. The kid in him burst out, and suddenly he was holding up a pair of gummy lips—his “kiss for the day.”
I fully intend to sneak up on the Relax & Unwind box and brew a cup of peach tea then snag the pretzels before he stakes his next claim. Consider yourself warned: these boxes inspire joyful food heists.
Packed With Purpose is perfect for anyone who needs a little TLC, a morale boost, or a smile that doesn’t require a lot of words. If you’re unsure what to give someone, send comfort in a box. They deliver love, thoughtfulness, and delicious treats in one beautifully curated package.
And yes—we’ll explore founder Leeatt Rothchild’s incredible “why” in a future article, because sometimes the story behind the snacks makes them taste even sweeter.
Gifts That Give Back: All purchases give back and create a positive impact in communities across America and include an Impact Booklet in each gift sharing the stories behind the products. They are inspiring stories so make sure to read them when they arrive. You’ll be glad you did.
Retail Price: Packed with Purpose gift baskets generally retail between $35-$230 depending on the size and content. Use promo code CANCERBITES10 for a 10% off online orders the rest of 2025.
Where to Find Them: Find Packed With Purpose products on their WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Delicious, holiday treats, sustainable, positive impact, women-owned.
This next company, Bold & Bloom, was born from an experience of personal loss and healing, and is meant to represent resilience, renewal, and beauty. They offer gorgeous hand-sculpted clay earrings that are affordable, lightweight, and hypoallergenic. Their products truly are wearable art, commonly featuring flowers and other plant motifs paired with snakes and dark colors to represent the vitality in the darkness.
Inspired By: Owner of Bold & Bloom Lindsey Gann says: “My connection to cancer is deeply personal. My family has faced more than our share of cancer journeys over the years. My father passed away in 2016 after losing his second battle with colon cancer, and that same year, my stepchildren lost their mother to stomach cancer. And currently we’re awaiting breast cancer biopsy results for my mother-in-law, so this cause hits close to home for me. My father was my idol. He started his own auto body shop in 1975, and I had the honor of working alongside him from 2000 to 2014. Watching him build something from the ground up taught me the value of purpose, perseverance, and creating something that lasts. Years later, during a difficult season of depression, I turned to art—sculpting flowers from clay—as a way to reconnect with myself and find healing. That creative outlet grew into Bold & Bloom, a brand devoted to helping women rediscover their strength, confidence, and sense of self through wearable art.
Each piece I design carries a bit of that perspective; a reminder that even through heartbreak, beauty and strength can still rise. In honor of my loved ones and so many others affected by this disease, I also donate a portion of my profits annually to cancer research — hoping that one day, fewer families will have to experience the same kind of loss.”
Siobhan’s Review: Stacey and I got to chat with Lindsey Gann for a Mini Mic Bites segment, and let me tell you — she’s one of those people you meet and immediately think, Yep, she’s coming with us on this wild Cancer Bites ride.
And then she did something that nearly knocked me off my chair when I was saying how beautiful the earrings are and how I loved the bold pink color. She told me she created them exclusively for Cancer Bites.
A pink beauty — bold, blooming, and absolutely stunning. It’s the kind of pink that doesn’t whisper “you got this or survivor energy,” it radiates it. Honestly, I gasped when I opened the box. If you want a pair, get in line (literally). There’s already a waiting list, so message us and we’ll make sure you’re the first to know when they’re ready to ship. ( A portion of the sale will support Cancer Bites.)
Her regular line is already wearable poetry — flowers blooming out of clay, little botanical rebellions, symbols of transformation (and attitude). Lightweight, hypoallergenic, and artful enough to make your Zoom square look elevated even on a bad hair day.
But this exclusive Cancer Bites pink? That’s not just jewelry… that’s a hug you dangle from your ears.
Gifts That Give Back: A portion of Bold & Bloom proceeds is donated annually to cancer research — but this year, Lindsey went even further. She donated 50 pairs of the exclusive pink Cancer Bites earrings to our gift bag campaign. This generosity didn’t just fill bags — it filled hearts. Truly one of my top favorites of this entire season of giving.
Retail Price: Bold & Bloom earrings and necklaces retail between $30 and $55.
Where to Find Them: Find Bold & Bloom products on their WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Empowering, confidence-boosting, woman-owned and created, comfortable.
Home is where the heart is which makes the decision of what to put in it so important. People need items that are dependable and signal a desire to not only appreciate the beauty in life but to share with others. Holland Bowl Mill creates handcrafted, long-lasting wooden kitchen products that will warm the heart, soul, and stomach. Available on their site are: bowls, cutting boards, utensils, home decor, and more. They are beautifully crafted from a variety of different woods—cherry wood, walnut, maple, etc.—and styles, and best of all, they are wonderful ways to prepare and eat the food you love with the people you love.
Inspired By: Kory Gier, fourth-generation Holland Bowl Mill owner, shares: “My mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer in 2017. I remember finding out at work, one of the hardest days of my life. Broke down in my office thinking stage 4 and thinking of the worst possible outcomes. Luckily my Mom is incredible and we have such a close family that helped her through Chemo and the battle of cancer. Today she is cancer free and am so lucky to have her be a part of my kiddos lives!”
Siobhan’s Review: I loved these bowls and cutting boards from the moment I first saw them. So when Holland Bowl Mill asked what I wanted to review, I didn’t hesitate—I said, “The trees!” I knew they’d be stunning as a holiday display, and I wasn’t wrong. They sent three wooden trees and a cherry bowl, and I felt genuinely spoiled.
The trees took me straight back to our treks into the back acreage to cut down our family Christmas tree—pine, spruce, or fir, depending on the year. Those were crisp, joy-soaked days, the kind that live forever in your bones. And that cherry bowl? It reminds me of the maple burl bowl that lived in our kitchen growing up, the one that sold for $1,000 when my parents eventually moved off the farm.
There’s something about true craftsmanship—it carries more than skill. It carries stories, fingerprints of tradition, and the kind of love that settles into an object and just stays. Holland Bowl Mill’s pieces feel like that: heirlooms made from wood and memory.
Gifts That Give Back: Holland Bowl Mill products are well-made everyday items that family, friends, and all loved ones can enjoy. They last a lifetime of precious memories sharing snacks and cooking food, and are durable enough to be passed from generation to generation.
Retail Price: Holland Bowl Mill products generally retail between $40 and $200. Bowls and cutting boards are available individually or in sets.
Where to Find Them: Find Holland Bowl Mill products on their WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Handcrafted, family-owned, made in the USA, lifetime guarantee, long-lasting, sustainably-sourced.
This next item on the list may look like a simple journal, but it is so much more! It is a guide to help people begin inner dialogues with themselves and to help them navigate life’s many challenges—whether that be unexpected medical issues, a crisis of identity, or just normal life. It contains guided exercises, prompts, and creative frameworks. With this journal, people can reconnect with themselves, find new meaning, and transition into new mindsets.
Wondershift LLC’s mission is to work with businesses, employees, and individuals to create result-driven transformation. Rather than focusing on resolving singular solutions as they come, their aim is to build self-awareness, resilience, and open dialogue. Their Wake Up Series embraces self-discovery and transformation, beginning with the Wakeup and Wondershift Journal and also offering a 2026 retreat and journal jumpstarts—2-minute videos offering context and examples from the journal.
Inspired By: Judy A. Goldberg writes that “This journal was born from one of the most pivotal chapters of my life. In January 2017, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. As anyone touched by cancer knows, it’s an involuntary journey that forces change upon you. While I was surrounded by wonderful support, it was a conversation with a woman from a support group that truly shifted something in me. She said: ‘Joining a support group would be good for you. In fact, I think YOU being in a support group would be good for others too.’
“Her words, and the experience that followed, inspired me to write Wake Up and Wondershift. What guided me through that time was a growth mindset and the realization that the tools and techniques I used to navigate cancer could also help anyone facing major change, whether personal or professional.”
Siobhan's Review: I have two workbooks from Judy, and they’ve become tools to help me gather my thoughts and gently shift the direction of my life. These aren’t fitness journals in the running-or-yoga sense — they’re mental fitness. They ask me questions I don’t always want to ask myself, but absolutely need to. Especially those that someone with cancer has to ask. They guide me through exercises that help me learn from the footprints I’ve left in the sands of time and consider the ones I want to leave next.
Judy talks about “entertaining the uncomfortable” in order to grow. We outgrow our clothes and think nothing of it — but what about our relationships, our work, our neighborhoods, and honestly, on most days, the entire planet?
I haven’t worked through the entire journal yet, but it’s already a keeper. She includes a “build, buy, grow, bin” section — and this one will never hit the bin. It’s helping me build this next chapter of my life with breast cancer, to grow through it, and to build on it, just as I am doing with Cancer Bites.
This may look like a simple journal, but it’s so much more. It’s a guide for inner dialogue — the kind that helps you navigate life’s challenges, whether it’s unexpected medical issues, identity shifts, or simply being human. The exercises, prompts, and creative frameworks help you reconnect with yourself, find new meaning, and move into a new mindset.
There is also a Leadership Edition that the Cancer Bites leadership team will be incorporating into our meetings. We’ll work through it one page at a time. Judy sent me a personalized note thanking me for all I’m doing — but honestly, I want to thank her for creating a workbook that helps all of us level up to a wonder-filled existence. None of us have an eternity here to “get it,” so it’s time to shift it.
Gifts That Give Back: Wondershift has graciously donated to this year’s Cancer Bites gift bags.
Retail Price: Wakeup and Wondershift Journal retails on Amazon for $24.
Where to Find Them: Visit the Wondershift WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Healing, comforting, self-reflection and self-expression.
We all love the weighted blanket. Well, this is the weighted blanket 2.0 with cuddly ears and tails to boot! It is a cute, cuddly, and portable stuffed animal that achieves the same effect. Hugz works by relaxing the parasympathetic nervous system through the 3.8 pound weight of SGS and FDA certified glass beads. This helps regulate heart rate, breath rate, and blood pressure, helping people reduce stress and sleep better. Benefits also include cortisol level drops, serotonin release that improves mood, and enhanced relaxation. All Hugz have cute names and come in a variety of animals. Choose to adopt Ferguson the cat, Shelly the turtle, and Angus the highland cow! Get one and see what they’ve been talking about in magazines such as Today, Rolling Stone, USA Today, Cosmopolitan, and Yahoo!
Inspired By: Hugz says, “Struggling from depression and anxiety at an early age, that was then exacerbated by being severely bullied in high school, our Founder Lexi started to develop crippling panic attacks that made it hard at times for her to leave the house. Through the support of an excellent clinical team and evidence-based research, and the love of family and friends, Lexi clawed her way to wellness after high school. One of the tools that Lexi found significantly helpful was weighted blankets that calmed her anxiety, but Lexi wanted to develop something more portable, accessible, and affordable.
“After experimenting with different vessels, Lexi launched Hugz, a mental health wellness brand that provides the comfort of a weighted blanket through a portable, soft, huggable animal. She hopes to spread what has helped her through difficult times to all those around the world who need it.”
Siobhan's Review
John doesn’t want to give these cuties away. Enuff said. LOL.
They are absolutely adorable — whether you hug them, tuck them into a comfy spot on the couch, or hand them off to your kids (good luck with that because you will want them back!). I honestly wasn’t sure what else to write about stuffed animals… until I realized these Hugz have already become part of the household.
They’re soft, weighted, comforting, and full of personality. And apparently, according to John, not leaving our home anytime soon.
Gifts That Give Back: Hugz will donate 10% of all proceeds of their Hugz of the Month to the Rare Impact Fund.
Retail Price: Hugz retail for $57.99. Mini Hugz retail for $39.99.
Where to Find Them: Visit the Hugz WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Cute, sleep aid, great for kids and John too!
Although there has already been so much soap and hygiene products listed on our holiday gift guide in November and December, we just can’t get enough! It is so much fun to try different scents and pamper ourselves a bit! What makes Tangie stand out is its commitment to zero-waste packaging. Their bar style product ensures that there is no wasteful plastic-bottle use and makes it simple and easy to transport. Product options include shampoo, conditioner, hand soap, cleaner, laundry detergent, and even pet shampoo and conditioners for our furry friends! Shampoo and conditioners come in scents of bergamot patchouli, french lavender, citrus, peppermint, rose geranium, and more.
Tangie strives to create a business that is sustainable, natural, and ethical. Their mission is to create a more sustainable alternative to the mainstream plastic packaging of the hygiene and cleaning industries that often utilize one-use plastics. All of their packaging practices are zero plastic and use compostable materials. They are also Leaping Bunny and EWG certified, ensuring that all their products are cruelty-free and use natural and non-harmful ingredients.
Inspired By: Angie Ringle, the founder of Tangie, says she began the company “after seeking gentler solutions for my own skin and environment.” Her goal is to create products that bring real comfort without compromising values.
Siobhan’s Review: When I opened the packages from Tangie, I realized everything inside came in bar form — shampoo bars, conditioner bars… and a beard conditioner for all my facial hair. 😂 I’m fairly certain that one was meant for John, but since he has zero beard, it made me laugh. The man has so much hair on his head that if he ever tried to walk into a hair-loss treatment center, they’d escort him right back out the door.
What surprised me most was how well everything worked. I rubbed the shampoo bar on my head and — boom — honest-to-goodness lather, not the sad bubbles I expected. And the conditioner? It made my hair soft, smooth, and tangle-free happy. The bars themselves are lovely: clean, simple, zero-waste, and somehow… fun. My shower now looks like an eco-friendly apothecary, and I’m absolutely here for it.
She also nailed my all-time favorite scent. The lavender takes me straight back to my mom, who used lavender soap every single day. It’s a quiet comfort tucked into a purple bar.
There’s also a shave-cream bar that I’m slipping into someone’s stocking because he hasn’t spotted it yet. But truly — for a man who travels, that bar is perfect. Drop it in a simple soap container, toss it in a Dopp kit, and off you go. I almost swapped in ‘toiletry bag,’ but let’s be honest — ‘Dopp kit’ has a certain swagger, while ‘grooming pouch’ sounds like something a raccoon might carry to freshen up before a night raid.
Gifts That Give Back: Tangie donates cleaning supplies to shelters and charity laundry facilities.
Retail Price: Tangie products, from Human and Pet Shampoo bars to Home-Cleaner Concentrates, retail for under $25. Use this code - Growtogive10 - and get 10% off all products purchased through thier website.
Where to Find Them: You can find Tangie products on their WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Sustainability Focused, cruelty-free, natural Ingredients, vegan, made in USA, women-run, wellness-focused.
Feel like giving back this Christmas? Here’s the perfect opportunity. Most of us have received socks for Christmas whether they are the nice, dress socks for just those occasions or fun holiday socks with candy canes all around. These socks will definitely warm the hearts of everyone involved—the gifter, the giftee, and all the brave women this product supports—hence the name of the campaign Warm Feet, Warm Hearts. Please note that this product is a donation and that purchasers will not be receiving socks, but instead the socks will go to women in treatment or in recovery for cancer. All socks are designed to help with discomfort and swelling. They are beautifully decorated with breast cancer ribbons as a sign of strength and resilience. If there is a specific giftee to be named Warm Feet, Warm Hearts will accommodate and ensure they receive their gift. The gifter will pay shipping costs. In addition to the “Resilient Pearl Sock” there will be an additional gift option offer: Resilient Calm Body Butter.
Inspired By: As a survivor of breast cancer herself, Kat Perkins knows the hardships of going through cancer treatments and battling the way through recovery. She was diagnosed in July of 2023 and after the journey, she found herself being pulled to offer comfort and solace to those going through similar experiences.
Siobhan’s Review: When I created Cancer Bites, I didn’t realize how many incredible women I would meet who are living with breast cancer—and the strength, humor, and resilience they show every day is awe-inspiring. Kat Perkins’ Warm Feet, Warm Hearts campaign is a beautiful way to give back this holiday season. I saw my mother-in-law struggle with circulation problems, and I can tell you—if she were alive, she would have these socks on her feet in a nano second. These sock donations go directly to women in treatment or recovery, helping ease discomfort and swelling, while also letting them know someone cares. It’s the kind of gift that warms the hearts of everyone involved—the gifter, the giftee, and most importantly, the brave women it supports.
Gifts that Give Back: All purchases are donations to provide compression socks to women going through or recovering from cancer. No products will go to the purchasers. Yes, you read that correctly.
Retail Price: A complete resilient sock donation is $200. It is also possible to gift donations starting at $50 which will go towards sending socks to women in need.
Where to Find Them: Find Kat Perkins and the socks on her WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Donation, comfy and healing, cancer-survivor lead.
While nail care may not seem like a health risk, when you are immunocompromised, almost anything can get you into trouble. Something as simple as cutting your cuticles can put you at risk for infection and this is where Cuticle-B-Gone comes in. Their revolutionary Cuticle-B-Gone Cuticle File is a safe and more effective alternative that minimizes damage and reduces risk of infection. The file comes with an easy-to-use handle, a precision tip for both the left and right side of the nail bed, a small paddle tip (for use on small nails and children), and a large paddle tip (for use on larger nails and men). For additional pampering, try either their mandarin or ylang ylang cuticle oil that moisturizes, nourishes, and strengthens.
Inspired By: The Cuticle-B-Gone team says, “Barbara Gomes, Cuticle-B-Gone’s inventor, created the nail care tool out of a need for a better way to care for her and her loved one’s nails. Barbara’s mother was a breast cancer survivor and was left with a lymphedema arm, which put her at high risk for infections. Unable to cut her mother’s painful hangnails and cuticles, Barbara filed them. While filing took care of the hangnails and cuticles, it damaged the nail in the process. Years later, when Barbara had grandchildren, she found that, again, filing was a much better option. She also discovered that filing her own cuticles created a much longer lasting and smoother manicure. However, the typical nail files that she used meant that damage to the nail was unavoidable. After years of frustration, Barbara decided that it was time to revolutionize the nail care industry. Cuticle-B-Gone is a simple, yet effective, safer way to manicure your nails. Just say no to cutting your cuticles.”
Siobhan’s Review: I’ve let my cuticles grow for this product review — which, with cancer, doesn’t seem to be something you easily lose like hair. Enter Cuticle-B-Gone: a brilliant little device that gently pushes overgrown skin and files instead of cutting or snipping. No bleeding, no oops moments at the salon, just smooth nails. I’m not thin-skinned, but my nails sure are, and this innovation is a game-changer. Take it to your favorite nail salon and ask them to add it to your personal kit — they’ll be impressed. Bonus: you can even give back through salon orders, helping Cuticle-B-Gone support more women.
Four months into chemo, I’ve already seen the white stuff on my toenails vanish, and when my nails recover, they’ll look like a pampered princess — yet still ready for digging in the garden and building community farms. A perfect mix of luxury, practicality, and resilience. I cut myself on a broken container the other day, and as I was getting a bandage, I wondered, “Now that I have cancer, is this a concern?” Thankfully it is healing well — but who thinks of these things until it happens? Barbara does! Great idea for a gift to a cancer patient.
Gifts That Give Back: Cuticle-B-Gone generously donated over 60 cuticle-care kits for this year’s Cancer Bites gift bags—some even arrived with their deliciously scented cuticle oils tucked inside like little surprise bonuses. The brand also shares that they donate a portion of profits and provide files to cancer-support organizations and hospitals caring for women undergoing chemotherapy, making this a beauty tool that gives far beyond great nails.
Retail Price: Cuticle-B-Gone Cuticle File retails for $29.95 and 0.27 fl oz Cuticle Oils retail for $14.99.
Where to Find Them: Find the Cuticle-B-Gone team on their WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Safe, infection prevention, women-designed and owned.
Tired of bras that don’t fit quite right, aren’t comfortable, and don’t offer the concealment you want? Becky Connelly, owner of Non Disclosure Apparel, feels you. She spent years trying different padded bras, molded cups, and even layering clothing to get the look she wanted, but it was never right. This led to her creating the Elli and Gigi bralettes that offer seamless, wire-free support and foam-free concealing petals to keep those nips from peeping. They are lightweight, extremely gentle on sensitive skin, and can be used by women from their tweens to size 40G. Elli is the original bralette with thinner straps and perfect for smaller busts. The Gigi bralette offers wider straps, a deeper band, and fuller coverage. What makes this product above and beyond, is that it is customizable to fit particular needs.
Inspired By: Becky Connelly: “During our first year, something unexpected happened: women going through radiation started telling us our bras were the only ones they could wear during treatment.
Their stories moved me to donate 45 bralettes to MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, and it opened my eyes to how much women need comfortable, adaptable options.
That's why we now customize bralettes for women with unique needs—repositioning petals for uncentered nipples, adding prosthesis pockets, and custom designs for asymmetrical needs.
My stepmom wears a breast prosthetic on one side, so we added a petal to balance the other. What matters most to me is helping women feel comfortable—wearing a bra that is soft and unrestrictive.”
Siobhan’s Review: I’m literally wearing this bralette as I type—so consider this a live, unfiltered field report. It’s comfy, it’s not rolling up like a rebellious window shade, and my skin isn’t staging a protest. Becky and I chatted the other day (a fantastic conversation you’ll hear soon on our socials, Youtube and Spotify), and what struck me most is how much heart she’s poured into something as simple—and as complicated—as a bra.
These bralettes aren’t trying to jab you, squeeze you, or remind you of their existence every five minutes. The petals keep everything discreet, the straps don’t dig trenches into your shoulders, and the whole thing sits exactly where it’s supposed to. For anyone dealing with sensitive skin, radiation tenderness, or just the general chaos of being a woman with or without breasts, this is one of those “Where has this been all my life?” finds. And the fact that Becky customizes them for women with asymmetry, prosthetics, or unique needs? Chef’s kiss.
Gifts That Give Back: Non Disclosure Apparel donates bralettes to MUSC Hollings Cancer Center.
Retail Price: Non Disclosure Apparel bralettes retail between $48 to $58.
Where to Find Them: Find Non Disclosure Apparel products on their WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Soft for sensitive skin, customizable, nipple-concealing, confidence-boosting.
If you are looking for a skin lotion good enough to eat, look no further than the products at Sky & Sol. Now, to be clear, please do not eat their product, however, their company’s mission is to create skincare that is so safe, you could eat it with a side of orange juice. As such they use food-derived, nutrient ingredients that are already healthy to ingest. Two of their best-sellers—The Everything Cream and Face and Body Sunscreen SPF 50—are great editions to anyone’s skin routine. The Everything Cream hydrates and comforts your skin, making it especially perfect for dry or flaky patches. And their Face and Body Sunscreen is made with formulas that avoid greasiness and breakouts, reduce white-casting prominent from other mineral-based sunscreens, and are reef-safe.
Inspired By: Tricia Redulla, co-founder of Sky & Sol, shares, “Since launching Sky & Sol, we’ve heard from so many in our community who are either currently navigating cancer or are in remission—from skin cancer to breast cancer survivors. They’ve shared how nourishing, gentle products have supported them when their skin is most sensitive. Those messages are a big part of why we do what we do, and why we care so deeply about creating products that are safe, comforting, and supportive for the people who need it most.”
Siobhan’s Review: I’ve been using Sky & Sol, and what I love most is the simplicity — one cream that works for both day and night. Toss it in your overnight bag and you’re set. Keep another in your purse for the days you’re out and about: hiking the hills, at an all-day outdoor concert, volunteering at the Phoenix Food Forest (shameless plug for our Growing to Give collab!), or just running around between appointments.
During this battle with breast cancer, my skin has had zero tolerance for anything harsh or overly scented. This cream is the opposite — gentle in all the right ways. Made with tallow (yes, the same thing some fast-food restaurants are switching to for fries), it nourishes your skin without any of the greasy “drive-throughs on your face” vibes. It doesn’t sting, it doesn’t overwhelm, and it definitely doesn’t make you cry — which, trust me, is a bonus on a journey where tears come freely.
Sky & Sol gives comfort, nourishment, and a little extra confidence to show your face to the world — even if it’s from behind your new sunnies from the first gift guide here: Cancer Bites Recovery Gift Guide 1.
Gifts That Give Back: Sky & Sol gives back by treating your skin like royalty and treating the ocean like it matters. Their reef-friendly formulas skip the chemical chaos, offering sunshine protection that won’t annoy the fish.
Retail Price: Sky & Sol products retail between $30–$99. Their Everything Cream retails for $34.99 and their Face and Body Sunscreen SPF 50 retails for $29.99.
Where to Find Them:You can find Sky & Sol’s products on their WEBSITE. Use promo code SIOBHAN FOR 10% OFF
With this next brand, we definitely think we have met our matcha match. Not only are Mantra Matcha’s products delicious and flavorful, they are made with the purest, highest-grade, and freshest ingredients to be found. These ingredients offer natural energy boosts, concentration and mood enhancement, digestive aid that alleviates inflammation and bloating, and supports metabolism, immunity, and overall well-being. Try any of their delicious blends, from the traditional ceremonial matcha to fun new flavors like banana cacao, strawberry lemon, rose hip dragon, and cinnamon goji berry.
Mantra Matcha’s mission is to spread positivity with every sip and is a proud supporter of No Kid Hungry. Their matcha comes from non-commercialized, private hillside farms near Uji, Japan, and is meticulously processed grounded by stone to ensure smoothness and quality. It is vegan, gluten-free, and uses natural ingredients.
Inspired By: Mantra Matcha is clearly inspired by the art and ritual of traditional Japanese matcha. The brand emphasizes purity, quality, and mindfulness in every step, from sourcing to preparation, and blends this with a modern approach that encourages positivity, wellness, and giving back to the community.
Siobhan’s Review: Matcha and I have always had a… complicated friendship. I adore the idea of it — the ritual, the calm, the bright jade swirl that looks like it could unlock ancient wisdom. But my taste buds are a bit dramatic and tend to file matcha under “acquired tastes I haven’t quite acquired yet.” I’ve discovered I can take my Mantra Matcha to the coffee palace, and they’ll create a tastebud masterpiece for me — one that I like and don’t spit out on the floor. In fact, I discovered that a few spoons of Mantra Matcha, a scoop of vanilla protein powder and unsweetend oat milk was a perfect tasting afternoon snack. My tastebuds are onside now!
That’s why I was genuinely impressed by Mantra Matcha’s approach. Their blends are incredibly smooth, beautifully fragrant, and clearly crafted with care. Even as someone who doesn’t naturally reach for matcha, I could appreciate the freshness, the creativity of the flavor combinations, and the feeling of clean, steady energy afterward. I reached for it today and made a Mantra Matche smoothie. That could be my new afternon pick me up.
If you’re already a matcha lover — or matcha-curious and wanting a gentle entry point — this brand is absolutely worth exploring. The care they put into sourcing from private hillside farms and grinding their leaves by stone really does shine through.
And I especially love their heart for giving back — a company that nourishes both your cup and your community gets extra points from me.
Gifts That Give Back: Mantra Matcha’s mission is to spread positivity with every sip and is a proud supporter of No Kid Hungry.
Retail Price: Mantra Matcha blends retail for $45 per pack, purchasing options available for multiple packs, subscriptions, and bundles.
Where to Find Them: You can find Mantra Matcha’s products on their WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Delicious, clean and organic ingredients, immune boosting.
Even the smallest and most innocuous of creatures can be warriors, especially this little guy. This bunny can kick cancer’s ass, battle inner demons, and sneak in and steal the produce from your vegetable garden. The plushie features the steel alchemy symbol on the chest for strength, a spectrum headscarf representing different cancers, bandages for frequent blood tests and IV infusion, and, of course, a sword and shield for battle. Soft, cuddly, and ready for war.
Plushie Dreadfuls is a family toy company specializing in plushes that promote emotional well-being, empathy, and acceptance. They hope to bring all the unseen aches and pains into the light through cuddly companionship that symbolize resilience and connection. Among many more, plush themes include cancer, anxiety, depression, and, my personal favorite, ouchieness.
Inspired By: Plushie Dreadfuls was founded with the belief that even the smallest, softest companions can carry big messages of resilience, courage, and emotional support. Each plushie is thoughtfully designed to give children and adults alike a tangible way to express strength, confront fears, and navigate difficult emotions. The Cancer Warrior Bunny, like many of their creations, was inspired by the founders’ desire to turn invisible struggles — from illness to anxiety — into something visible, approachable, and empowering through cuddly, character-driven companions.
Siobhan’s Review: This Cancer Warrior Bunny isn’t the sweet, cuddly kind you see hopping through the neighborhood — not even close. With coal-black eyes that pierce straight into your cancer, this little warrior shows up ready for a fight. The sword and shield it carries aren’t for decoration; they’re here to back cancer into a corner and make sure it never, ever comes back out.
This Warrior Bunny alchemizes your fear into fierceness, your pain into power, and your sadness into strength. It’s living proof that even the smallest, most innocent-looking creatures can be absolute warriors. This bunny can kick cancer’s ass, battle inner demons, and, when no one’s looking, absolutely sneak into your garden and mow down all your leafy greens like it’s an all-you-can-eat buffet.
It features the steel alchemy symbol on its chest for resilience, a spectrum headscarf representing all cancers, bandages for the endless blood tests and IV pokes, and of course, the sword and shield. And honestly, this little bunny doesn’t report to the Department of War — it is its own department. No bureaucracy, no paperwork, no approvals. Just pure, adorable, unhinged determination to fight on your behalf.
Perfect for anyone who needs a soft reminder that strength can come in unlikely shapes — even one with floppy ears.
Gifts That Give Back: Among their extensive charitable contributions, a $1 donation is made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with each purchase.
Retail Price: Plushie Dreadfuls’ Cancer Warrior Rabbit retails $45.
Where to Find Them: You can find Plushie Dreadfuls’ products on their WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Fun, fierce, cuddly, family-owned.
Need a little boost to help you through your mornings, afternoon, and nights? Don’t we all! This next company offers CBD and THC alternatives to prescription medications that may help manage pain, anxiety, stress, and sleep. Their wide range of products allow you to target specific problems. Need more focus in the morning? Try their Uplift Daytime Focus Gummies containing CBG and CBD. Need help sleeping? Look no further than Dreamer+ Fast Acting Nighttime Gummies with THC. Each gummy blend comes in a fun, delicious flavor, incorporating natural fruits like blueberries, raspberries, and lemon.
Carolina Dream’s proprietary blends are fast-action—effects felt in just 15-30 minutes—and crafted specifically for a smooth ride—no highs and lows, resulting in the feelings of paranoia and anxiety. All THC gummies are available without a prescription and are legal under the 2018 Farm Act. Products are made with all-natural ingredients, vegan, and third-party lab tested, ensuring purity and potency.
Inspired By: Carolina Dream says, “There is no personal tie to cancer, but a personal tie to wanting an alternative to opioids/prescription pills. The brand was founded by Marine Corps veteran Cody Callarman, who witnessed firsthand how veterans returning from Afghanistan were often prescribed a lifetime of medications to cope with PTSD and physical pain. Around the same time, his mother was recovering from major leg surgery and facing her own struggle with chronic pain management. Seeing both experiences, Callarman knew there had to be a better way. Out of that realization—and a deep desire to help others heal naturally—Carolina Dream was born, created to flip the script on how we approach recovery and relief.”
Siobhan’s Review: We only keep one Carolina Dream product in this house — the Dreamer nighttime gummies — because sleep is the only category where we actually need reinforcements. Fun? We manufacture that in-house. Chaos? Happens naturally, no presscription required. But sleep? That’s where Dreamer steps in like a calm, competent friend who shows up with a blanket and says, “Alright sweetheart… let’s shut this circus down.”
These gummies do not play. Within 15–30 minutes, the day stops tap dancing on your brain, your shoulders finally drop out of your ears, and you slide into a kind of sleep that feels like someone dimmed the lights on the whole universe. Smooth, steady, no weird spikes, no 3 a.m. “Why did I put my feet up on the teacher’s desk in eighth grade?” reruns. Just rest. Actual rest.
They taste good, they’re gentle, they’re natural, and they don’t require a prescription. And honestly? They make sleep feel possible again — not the “fell asleep on the couch in a neck-breaking position” kind, but real, intentional, delicious sleep.
If Carolina Dream ever creates a gummy that folds laundry or answers emails, we’ll revisit the product lineup. But for now, Dreamer is doing exactly what it promises: giving us the rest we need so we can make our own fun during the day — no backup required.
Gifts That Give Back: Carolina Dream isn’t just a brand—it’s a purpose-driven movement to empower people, break stigmas, and create a better world.
Retail Price: Carolina Dream’s THC and CBD Gummy packs retail for $24.99-44.00, depending on type, size, and potency. Bundles and subscriptions are also available.
Where to Find Them:You can find Carolina Dream’s products on their WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Veteran-owned, locally-sourced, calming, pain relief, prescription pill alternatives.
When Women Get Sick offers real, practical advice on how to navigate the many struggles of cancer—from forming support networks to communicating with doctors and dealing with insurance. What makes this book special is Rebecca Bloom’s expertise in the law and healthcare industry. She worked as a top-level employee benefits lawyer and was a women’s healthcare advocate. Her book strives to help people cut through all the confusing, frustrating, and difficult aspects of healthcare in order to focus on the thing that truly matters, recovery. And through it all, it is so hard to stay mindful and grounded. Rebecca Bloom offers insights to these topics, offering tools and exercises with examples, questions, checklists, useful information, and tips.
Inspired By: Rebecca Bloom’s mother and sister are breast cancer survivors and her work has been greatly influenced and inspired by their journeys. Her When Women Get Sick website states, “A former workplace and benefits attorney, Rebecca’s longest and proudest affiliation is with Bay Area Cancer Connections, where she has served as a patient advocate and healthcare, insurance and workplace advisor for women fighting breast and ovarian cancer for over 26 years.” She hopes that with this book women going through cancer and their caregivers are able to find help, stability, and comfort.
Siobhan’s Review: When Women Get Sick shines a light on all the holes in your world you never knew were there. You’ve spent your life caring for others, running the show, solving problems — and suddenly you’re the patient. Most people aren’t prepared for that shift, and even with the best plans, private or government, surprises still pop up and tough choices have to be made.
Rebecca Bloom doesn’t sugarcoat it — she shows you how to navigate the chaos with clarity and confidence. From understanding your rights and benefits to figuring out what questions to ask, her guidance helps you see the edges you might otherwise miss.
This book is practical, steady, and empowering. It’s the kind of resource that helps you feel like you can take a breath, focus on what matters, and tackle the hard stuff without losing yourself in the process.
Rebecca will be joining us as our special guest on Cancer Bites Podcast in February 2026, so be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and catch the conversation!
Gifts That Give Back: Rebecca Bloom hopes that this book will empower cancer patients and their caregivers with the financial and emotional advice they need in order to best navigate the cancer journey.
Retail Price: When Women Get Sick retails on Amazon for $26.99.
Where to Find Them: Visit the When Women Get Sick WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Practical advice, financial wellness, women-written.
Whether or not you fell asleep during your high school science class, we can all benefit a little from the law of thermodynamics. Mozy Lower-Body Thermal Wrap, afterall, uses it to keep the wearer extra toasty with their own body heat and without the need for a battery pack or electricity outlet. Its nylon exterior shell means it is weatherproof and its simple fastening around the waist makes it super easy to use. It’s 500% more effective than a stadium blanket and is available in adult and xl size of varying colors. There is even a front pocket for phone and personal item storage—perhaps a way to sneak some beef jerky—or add patches to it for a fun way to personalize. If you want to watch your grandson’s soccer game but going outside makes your skin turn to ice, this is the way to fix it!
Inspired By: Mozy says, “Mozy's creator, Charlie, watched his mother shiver through countless games, unable to stay warm enough to enjoy watching her grandchildren play.
“After witnessing her especially miserable moments on the sidelines - soaking wet from stadium seats, retreating to the car to run the heater, missing precious moments because of the bitter cold...
“Charlie decided to put his thermodynamic and engineering background to work, creating a technical solution specifically designed to keep his mom comfortable and present for every cheer-worthy moment.”
He hopes to help others make those precious life moments just as he was able to help his mother.
Siobhan’s Review: All I know is my mother-in-law would have loved one of these. She always complained about being cold, even sitting in the car — and she adored her drives with her golden child, John. She needed this Mozy.
Living in the Southwest, most months you won’t need it, but when the winter rains come and you’re sitting out on the deck, this is a keeper. It traps your own body heat using the law of thermodynamics — even if science class wasn’t your favorite subject.
Weatherproof nylon, easy fastening, and a front pocket for your phone—or maybe a flask of coffee with a bite—makes it practical, cozy, and customizable.
Honestly… I would love nothing more than to get his momma one for Christmas and ship it up to heaven. I wonder if it gets cold up there because for sure as hell it does down here.
Gifts That Give Back: Mozy donates their products and money to a variety of charity organizations such as Save the Children and Every Ribbon Counts Foundation.
Retail Price: Mozy Lower Body Thermal Wrap retails for $129 on their website and on Amazon.
Where to Find Them: You can find Mozy’s products on their WEBSITE
Why We Love it: 5-year warranty, easy to use and wearable, machine washable, no batteries.
Be Blends is a health and self-care brand that offers a stunning variety of products to try and love. Available on their website are soy candles, aromatherapy bracelets, essential oils, bath and body products, and, of course, fun gift sets and bundles.
We recommend their Rest & Renew Gift Set and their Lip Balm Trio for just the right holiday treat. The Rest & Renew Gift Set includes a lavender vanilla candle, two bath salts—eucalyptus lavender and pink himalayan & grapefruit—and a be calm essential oil roller. Perfect for a little TLC and relaxation for both cancer patients and caregivers! And their Lip Balm Trio is especially beneficial to those undergoing chemotherapy and wanting to find a product that is safe, uses all natural ingredients, and provides powerful comfort. The set includes three .15 oz lip balms: peppermint lavender, wild blackberry, and honey vanilla. Best of all, you don’t need to keep a tight eye on your dog because all lip balms are sweetened with honey that are pet-safe. They are a company committed to high-quality, natural products available at affordable prices.
Inspired By: Owner of Be Blends Stacy Lefebvre Ventura says, “My brand, Be Blends, was born out of my husband’s cancer journey. During that time, I became passionate about creating products that were clean, safe, and intentionally crafted. Items that could support our family’s well being without compromise. Today, that same mission continues to guide everything we make.”
Siobhan’s Review: Cancer has a way of making you sore all over, even in places unrelated to cancer — everyday routines get tossed out the window, and some days your energy barely stretches to get the dishes done or keep building the Cancer Bites community. Add in a new pain in the neck, a pinched nerve in the lower back, and a groin muscle that wants to sabotage every step, and some days you really need a bath. Welcome, Be Blends.
In their Rest & Renew Gift Pack, they sent me two vials of bath salts, a lavender vanilla candle (lit for the special bath-time “set the mood” effect), and a Be Calm essential oil roller. There was even a BONUS gift — Be Kissable lip balms. I thought, “Great! Three lip balms — I can give two away.” Then, of course, I promptly tried one on, put it back in the box, and now I don’t even know which one it was. So… they all stay here. Next time, we’ll try that thoughtfulness thing before the forgetfulness kicks in — and yes, I blame cancer brain.
Hot water flowing, bath salts in the tub, and the calming scents surrounding me, as John stood at the ready to catch me if I fell as I slowly got out of the tub, I then sank into a few hours of deep relaxation and slumber. I felt complete again — body and mind. Be Blends makes self-care indulgent, practical, and fun, whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or just someone who deserves a little TLC.
Gifts That Give Back: Be Blends was born from a family’s cancer battle, and every product Stacy creates is a quiet act of giving back. Her husband’s fight with testicular cancer reshaped the way she approached wellness, sparking a commitment to clean, safe, intentionally crafted self-care essentials. By choosing Be Blends, you’re supporting a woman-owned business built from love, resilience, and a desire to bring comfort to others walking hard roads. It’s more than a purchase — it’s part of a legacy of healing.
Retail Price: Most products retail between $6-30. Rest & Renew Gift Set retails for $31 and the Lip Balm Trio retails for $12.
Where to Find Them: Visit Be Blend’s brick and mortar store at 1393 Progress Way #908, Eldersburg, MD 21784. You can also find Be Blend’s products on their WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Women-owned, cancer inspired, family-operated, natural ingredients, affordable, self-care and comfort.
Next up is a brand that will not just make you smile, but improve it. Tidalove, a women-founded sustainable personal-care brand, offers toothpaste tablets that clean and strengthen your teeth. They come in multiple different flavors—cool mint, yuzu mint, and cinnamon—with or without fluoride. All the toothpaste tablets use dentist-approved ingredients and are equally effective to traditional toothpaste. Use their mouthwash tablet for even more of a kick. All products are sustainably packaged and sent in refillable tins that are travel friendly.
Inspired By: Tidalove began with a mother’s instinct — Penny’s desire to protect her two kids from unnecessary chemicals and to protect the earth they’re growing into. She built her brand around a single guiding principle: only what works, nothing extra. Every product is solid, refillable, gentle, and honest. If it doesn’t feel good on her children, it never makes it into the line.
Their oral care products — from toothpaste tablets to mouthwash tablets — are crafted in North America using clean, locally sourced ingredients, keeping routines simple while keeping footprints small.
The name “Tidalove” carries its own quiet poetry: every tide begins with a small shift, a pull, an act of care. That same idea lives at the heart of the brand — small, mindful choices made with love can grow into something powerful, something better for our bodies and better for the planet.
Siobhan’s Review: I thought Tidalove was just sending chewable mouthwash tablets — but oh no, they decided to surprise-attack me with generosity. The box arrived stuffed with toothpaste tablets (fluoride-free or choose-your-own-adventure), all wrapped in zero plastic. Clean teeth and a clean planet? Yes, please.
I’ll admit: the first chew was a moment. There’s a split second where your brain says, “Wait… am I eating my toothpaste?” But stick with it — it breaks down, foams up, and suddenly you’re brushing like nothing strange ever happened. And the best part? My teeth felt legitimately fresh and sparkly afterward. Magic pebble dentistry.
But the true scene-stealer? The body cleanser sheets. These things are a blessing disguised as a moist towelette’s cooler cousin. Perfect for long flights, road trips, or those holiday mornings when every guest in the house is fighting for the shower and you’re supposed to look presentable for the tree-lighting ceremony in 12 minutes. Add water, swoosh, and boom — you’re clean from head to toe.
Tidalove makes personal care easy, clever, and kind of fun. Whether you’re brushing in the car, freshening up mid-travel, or just avoiding the bathroom line of doom, these little products show up exactly when you need them.
Gifts That Give Back: Every purchase removes one piece of ocean-bound plastic.
Retail Price: A one month supply of Tidalove’s fluoride or fluoride-free toothpaste tablets retails for $12. Their mouthwash tablets retail for $20.
Where to Find Them: Find Tidalove products on their WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Sustainable, women-founded, clean ingredients.
Research shows that magnesium helps to alleviate inflammation, muscle soreness, fatigue, and skin barrier damage. Additionally, it supports the immune system which makes it perfect for cancer survivors. Little Buddha offers magnesium-infused skincare that works to heal and restore the body. All their products are cruelty-free and handmade in small batches with organic, sustainably-sourced ingredients.
We recommend their bestsellers: Calm Vibes Magnesium & Arnica Body Butter and the Sleep Bundle. Calm Vibes Magnesium & Arnica Body Butter is specifically formulated to reduce stress and soothe sore muscles. The Sleep Bundle includes the Calm Vibes Magnesium & Arnica Butter and Skin Glow Tea for an even more powerful night’s sleep.
Inspired By: Little Buddha founder Daisy Betance says: “I took a soap and candle candle-making class and began creating my own skincare using clean ingredients and infusing them with magnesium. For the first time, my breakouts calmed down, my sleep improved, and I felt less anxious. Taking care of my skin became a way to support my nervous system—and I was finally able to start sleeping again.
“Then my mom was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Watching her turn to natural healing deepened my commitment even more. I saw firsthand how much what we put on our skin affects the whole body—and how stress, skin, and sleep are all deeply connected.”
Siobhan’s Review: I’ve been diving into Little Buddha’s Calm Vibes Magnesium & Arnica Body Butter every night — it’s substantial, luxe, and exactly what my sore muscles have been begging for. My shoulders, back, and even the mysterious pain that likes to pop up in my groin area all get a bit of relief, and somehow the jar hasn’t noticed how much I’ve used.
Then there’s the Restore Magnesium & Arnica Triple Whipped Body Butter — lighter, fluffier, and perfect as a bedtime indulgence. It eases tension, relaxes muscles, and preps your body for a deep, restorative sleep. Pair it with the Skin Glow Tea (jasmine, my favorite), and suddenly your nighttime routine feels like a spa retreat — no robe required.
Little Buddha says it best right on the box: “I like my products like I like my people — non-toxic.” And truly, these creams deliver on that promise. Magnesium + arnica = relief, comfort, and a little dose of self-care that actually works.
Daisy even sent a personal note hoping these products would bring me some relief. I can definitely say yes, Daisy — they have! My aches and pains thank you, and Cancer Bites thanks you too, because these little moments of comfort help me keep growing, keep going, and keep building a support system for cancer patients, caregivers, advocates, and experts.
Gifts That Give Back: Little Buddha donates a portion of profits to various charities. 10% of all sales from Nov. 14–23 will be donated to the women’s and children’s shelter Chattanooga Room in the Inn.
Retail Price: Little Buddha products retail for under $100. Calm Vibes Magnesium & Arnica Body Butter retails for $49.99. The Sleep Bundle retails for $79.99.
Where to Find Them: : Find Little Buddha products on their WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Magnesium-infused products, cancer relief, organic and sustainable, cruelty-free, women-owned, self-care.
To indulge our pun lovers, you mean a latte to us and if you have someone who means a latte to you, try the gift of Fire Department Coffee. Their line includes classic roasts, fun holiday blends, and spirit-infused—whiskey, rum, bourbon, etc.—coffees. The coffee beans come from all over the world and go through strict testing and evaluation, ensuring quality and environmental responsibility. All beans are roasted separately and differently to add a depth and complexity to every blend. It’s a thoughtful gift for anyone needing a little caffeine pick-me-up.
Inspired By: Get the tissues out - this is by far the best ‘Inspired By’ section we’ve included in our guides to date.
Co-founder Jason says “My father, James Patton was diagnosed with renal cancer when he was 52 years. After 3 years, he unfortunately lost his battle with cancer. The death of my father due to cancer was very impactful to my brothers and I because of the strong role my dad played in our lives growing up. He was a mentor, a guide and a person we were able to look to for advice on some of the most pinnacle monuments of our development. But the most impact was on my mother. Not only because she lost the man she was married to for 33 years, but also because they should have been able to begin planning the road to a very well deserved retirement for both of them. However, the cost of medical treatments, the sale of their home during one of the lows of the housing market after my father's passing, and the loss of a second income had put her in a different situation financially.
“However, since my father's passing, I have witnessed my mother demonstrate resilience that I could only hope to master within my lifetime. My mom, brothers and I have become closer than ever before because, somehow, my father's death showed us how brittle life can be and how important the bonds of family are especially in our darkest moments.”
“I miss my father every day, and even though it took the man that I looked up to so much, I am thankful for the relationship it gave me with my mother.”
Chief Creative Officer Brad says, “My dad was Thomas J. Flaherty, II. Losing him was devastating for me and my entire family — he was truly our anchor. He was a Navy veteran who attended the Naval Academy in the 1960s and served in the Naval Reserves. Although he never went to war, he took great pride in serving his country. After his time in the Navy, he built his own business in the Washington D.C. area as a wholesaler for Non-Destructive Testing Equipment. He worked hard every single day and showed me and my siblings what it means to earn an honest living.
“My dad battled cancer several times throughout his life. When I was in middle school, he had a tumor between his eyes that doctors were able to remove — saving his eyesight. In high school, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, went through chemotherapy, and beat it. Years later, he faced stage 4 melanoma that spread to his lungs and liver. The doctors gave him two to three years, but he fought for five. Then, after seeing signs of improvement, we were blindsided by a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. He fought it for a year, but that’s ultimately what took him.
“Through it all, my dad stayed positive. He never complained, never felt sorry for himself, and always focused on the good. People say you should never meet your heroes because they’ll disappoint you — but my dad was my hero, and he never did. He showed me what it means to be a good dad, friend, brother, and husband. He taught me to be grateful, even in hard times.”
“It’s been over two years since he passed, and I think about him every day. I wish I could call him, hear his voice, and ask for his advice one more time. But now, all I can do is carry on his legacy — and try to be half the man he was.”
Siobhan’s Review: In my best Mae West impression: I like my firemen like I like my coffee — hot, bold enough to break the glass and sound the alarm, and ready to pick you up when you need it most. When rattlesnakes were napping at my front door — big mama first, then baby diamondback an hour later — it was like Mae herself whispered, “Come up and see me sometime,” because that’s exactly what these heroes did, swooping in to save the day.
When I received this gift pack of Fire Department Coffee, I knew it was the perfect way to say thanks. I’ll be ordering more for gift-giving season. I brewed a pot this morning, but I’d already fallen in love with the brand, what it stands for, and… well, the veterans and firefighters standing behind it.
Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, Jason and Brad, who are firefighters themselves, share their personal, tear-jerker stories of how cancer has affected their lives in the Inspired By section — it’s moving, real, and shows just how much this brand gives back. Beautiful, smooth, fiery, and strong — this coffee has it all. Red fire hydrant mugs included (fun for humans, fascination for dogs). And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a firefighter that can espresso themselves?
Gifts That Give Back: Fire Dept. Coffee supports fellow firefighters in need through the Fire Department Coffee Charitable Foundation by giving back to those who have become sick or injured while on the job.
Retail Price: Fire Department Coffee products are available for $12-20.
Where to Find Them: Find Fire Department Coffee products on their WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Veteran-founded and owned, firefighter-founded and owned, energy-boosting, delicious.
Jessie Makes Stuff is an artist-run, custom-to-order creative studio in southern New York where every piece is made with intention. Jessie Parker hand-paints delicate feathers and layers them onto quality card stock to create one-of-a-kind notecards — thank you cards, birthday cards, encouragement cards — each one a tiny piece of original art you can hold in your hand. She also designs affirmation decks and soulful prints, all carrying her belief that everything has a purpose and every gift can land exactly where it’s needed.
Inspired By: After her own experience with basal cell skin cancer, Jessie became even more aware of how deeply cancer touches everyone — patients, families, friends, whole communities. That awareness grew into a mission: to create pieces that comfort, uplift, and serve a purpose. She channels that care into both her artwork and her work as a Reiki practitioner, using her gifts to support healing in more than one form. For Jessie, creativity and compassion weave together — art that soothes the spirit, energy work that supports the body, offerings that help people feel held.
Siobhan’s Review: When I first put out the call for help filling our Comfort & Joy gift bags for breast cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers, Jessie was one of the very first to respond. And not with a tiny envelope or a polite little sample — no, three big packages landed on my doorstep like a shipment of unexpected magic.
Opening them felt like discovering a hidden treasure chest. That delightful moment of lifting the lid and wondering, What on earth did she send? was half the fun. Inside were affirmation card packs, beautifully designed posters, and her stunning hand-painted feather cards — each one its own little whisper of hope and artistry.
Jessie Makes Stuff isn’t just a brand name; it’s a promise. She makes things that feel personal, thoughtful, and infused with gentle strength. Her creations don’t just look beautiful — they land exactly where someone needs them, right when they need them.
For our gift bags this year, her generosity didn’t just fill space. It lifted spirits.
Gifts That Give Back: Jessie Makes Stuff has generously donated her handmade creations — along with her time as a Reiki practitioner — to this year’s Cancer Bites Comfort & Joy gift bags, offering both beauty and healing to the patients we serve.
Retail Price: Prices vary depending on the custom art you order.
Where to Find Them: Esty
Why We Love it: Beautifully creative, Purpose-driven, Handcrafted, One-of-a-kind art, Heart-led giving, Supports healing in spirit and body.
A gift has so much more meaning when able to customize it for specific people and stories. For example, a bracelet that symbolizes its wearer’s strength or a necklace that says “I love you.” Lavish Everlasting Permanent Jewelry offers just that with a large selection of bracelets, necklaces, earrings, etc. that can be customized with various metals, gemstones, and charms. Charm themes include: luck, zodiac, love, rainbows, and more, enabling each piece to tell a story. Many pieces even offer the ability to engrave words or images on the metal. If you are looking to make something unique for your loved ones, it's definitely an option to consider!
Lavish Everlasting Permanent Jewelry prides itself on the made-to-last quality of its products. In addition to its customizable jewelry selection, the company does private events making permanent jewelry for guests. Permanent jewelry is a necklace, anklet, or bracelet that is welded together with the intention of never taking it off. These event bookings are available in Austin, TX; Long Island, NY; Stroudsburg, PA; and Denville, NY
Inspired By: Lavish Everlasting Permanent Jewelry was born from a place of deep love and lived experience. Its founder, Leanne Pinard, grew up watching cancer reshape the lives of the women around her — her mother surviving breast cancer with grit and grace, and her mother-in-law losing her battle with colon cancer far too soon. Those stories didn’t just stay in her family; they became her compass.
Driven by a desire to celebrate strength, connection, and the moments that matter, she built a brand around jewelry that lasts — pieces that stay with you the way the people you love stay with you. Her work in the Miss Long Island pageant world also shaped her mission: to uplift women, honor their journeys, and create symbols of confidence and care that feel both personal and empowering.
Lavish Everlasting isn’t just about pretty chains and charming sparks of welded metal. It’s about marking the stories you carry, honoring the people who shaped you, and choosing to wear something that keeps those connections close.
Siobhan's Review: I’ll be honest — when I first heard “permanent jewelry,” I thought, Oh great, I’m signing up for a wrist tattoo. I was already imagining explaining that to my siblings and John. But no — this is the elegant kind of permanent. The kind that’s welded on with a tiny spark, feels like a whisper on your skin, and doesn’t budge unless you want it to.
I’m wearing my delicate silver bracelet right now, and it’s become one of those pieces you forget you’re wearing… until someone compliments it, and then you suddenly remember you’re fabulous. What I love most is that these bracelets tell stories — your story — without screaming for attention. They just glow quietly, like the friend who holds your hand at appointments or out of the blue sends a meal voucher so you don’t have to cook, and never asks for credit.
And knowing that the bracelets in our gift bags were chosen with intention — and paired with handwritten encouragement cards from Miss New Jersey contestants — makes them feel even more powerful. Jewelry with tenderness woven in? Yes, please.
Lavish Everlasting doesn’t just make jewelry you keep on — they make jewelry that keeps you going.
Gifts That Give Back: Lavish Everlasting Permanent Jewelry didn’t just donate bracelets — they delivered heart. Each silver piece arrived beautifully packaged and paired with handwritten encouragement cards from the Miss New Jersey contestants, thanks to Leanne rallying her community with the kind of grace that sneaks up and makes you emotional in the best way.
While she can’t always break away from running her growing business, we’re honored that she shares what time she can with our Cancer Bites Titty committee — brainstorming, gathering goodies, and even coordinating those gorgeous bracelets and cards that made our gift bags feel truly special.
Her “give back” comes in sparkle, service, and spirit — and we’re grateful for every bit of it..
Retail Price: Jewelry retails from $50 to $3,000+ depending on product, metal, and gemstone.
Where to Find Them: Event bookings available in Austin, TX; Long Island, NY; Stroudsburg, PA; and Denville, NY. Find more about Lavish Everlasting Jewelry on their WEBSITE
Why We Love it: High-quality, chic, customizable, women-founded and operated.
Next up on our guide is the Pure Steel Ab Roller, cancer warriors have to stay strong after all. This is not your average ab wheel, it's engineered for durability, stability, and performance. It’s made from long-lasting, high-grade American steel available in a variety of colors. Each product is expertly welded, inspected for quality, and then ground smooth to ensure a clean finish before applying a protective coat to prevent wear and rust. Other products available from the company include: a hip-thrust machine, roman chair machine, and various exercise attachments.
Inspired By: Pure Steel says: “Karen Rodriguez is the CEO and co-founder of Pure Steel Inc., a California-based fitness equipment company redefining strength training with American-made quality and heart. A mother of seven and a stage 4 breast cancer warrior, Karen’s journey is one of perseverance, innovation, and resilience.
During her cancer battle, Karen was forced to stop most lower-body exercises due to bone fragility in her hips and spine. But she refused to let her diagnosis define her or strip her of her strength. Instead, Karen and her husband Marco set out to design a tool that would allow her—and anyone with physical limitations or high standards—to keep training safely while still targeting the core. Out of that determination, the Pure Steel Ab Roller was born.
Karen’s story has inspired countless others, proving that strength is not just about muscle—it’s about mindset, grit, and refusing to back down. Today, she leads Pure Steel with the mission of helping people build confidence, resilience, and power through fitness equipment that is built to last.
Siobhan’s Review: Karen and I, from all accounts, have almost twin breast cancers — in our bones and in all the other “fun” places cancer likes to go when it’s metastasi-deciding. Her hip bones became fragile, but as a lifelong fitness woman she refused to stop. So she invented the Pure Steel Ab Roller.
Right before my own diagnosis — in that strange, suspended time between “something feels off” and the emergency room whirlwind — I had been working my core like a woman on a mission. I’d actually gotten up to fifty ab crunches, and a two-pack was starting to wink at me in the mirror. I was honestly impressing myself. So when I was suddenly flattened with breast cancer, it was a shock that rattled the furniture of my life. How could someone reach that little pinnacle of living-room fitness glory on a yoga mat… and then be told they might not live to tell about it?
The tiny ab roller I’d been using was part of a jumprope-yoga-mat bundle — basically a toy. Too small, unstable, and punishing if you didn’t already have arms forged from Mount Olympus. Most women don’t! You don’t exactly see crowds of us lining up for chin-ups.
All summer, I could barely manage more than slow laps inside stores because of the fluid in my lung, but I longed for the day I could get back to strengthening my middle — for posture, back pain, walking tall, and yes, the occasional extracurricular adventure. Enter the Pure Steel Ab Roller: a substantial, brilliantly designed piece of equipment with a kneeling pad, a stable roller, hand grips, and arm rests. You just get down, cue the music, push out, and pull back in. It’s fitness poetry.
This creation from my fellow breast-cancer thriver is one of the brightest additions to the cornucopia of healing tools I’ve discovered this season. Run, don’t walk, to get yours — but don’t let your enthusiasm roll you straight into another trip in the 🚑 ECNALUBMA. Build strength slowly. Roll with intention. Let your power return one glide at a time.
Gifts That Give Back: Pure Steel donates a portion of all sales to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation year-round.
Retail Price: Pure Steel Ab Roller retails for $175.
Where to Find Them: Find Pure Steel products on their WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Active, made in the USA, women-founded and lead.
Oshun Griot knows that cancer patients facing fertility challenges are often overlooked in cancer and fertility communities. They also know that the holidays make this grief so much more difficult and that it can be a time of deep sorrow. Their Season of Survival healing boxes are designed for comfort in times like these. Each box includes candles, hot chocolate, tea, affirmation decks, a retro zine with humor, and comfort items—designed to bring softness during hard seasons. All boxes are designed for people of color, by people of color, but can be enjoyed by anyone needing a kind touch and word over the holidays.
Inspired By: Reniqua Allen-Lamphere, founder of Oshun Griot, had her own personal journey of hardship and grief. After several rounds of IVF, endometriosis, and misscarriage, she felt that she could offer comfort through gifts that provide space to feel and rest when the holidays feel impossible. She is also inspired by her friend Robin’s personal journey as a two-time breast cancer survivor.
Siobhan’s Review: I grew up hearing stories of potlatches from the early 1900s. As a baby, I was carried in the same hand-woven papoose basket my dad once rode in. Over the years, I’ve traced my bloodline through the painful chapters of residential school history my great-great-grandmother would have lived through — and the only photo I have of her shows her fully adorned in ceremonial regalia. She looks like a quiet powerhouse, a reminder that I come from people who endured, adapted, and kept their flame alive through everything.
So when I opened the Oshun Griot healing box, something stirred. The tote bag, the candle, the oracle/affirmation deck — all beautiful. But when I slid out the very first card and read, “I have the strength of my ancestors within me,” it went straight to my bones. I needed that message. And I know many others will, too.
Because of the cultural depth behind the name “Oshun Griot,” I also asked Stacey to share her thoughts — her lens brings context I didn’t grow up with. And I’m grateful we’ll be talking directly with founder Reniqua on the Cancer Bites Podcast on January 6.
This box carries tenderness for anyone walking through grief or complicated holidays, and it shows.
And we’re excited to be interviewing Reniqua on the January 6th episode of the Cancer Bites Podcast.
Stacey's review: One of the most beautiful aspects of these healing boxes is that they provide tools that embody nurturing, compassion, and the potency of ancestral wisdom. When the healing process is catalysed on a foundation of this wisdom, it becomes an integral part of the journey towards not just surviving, but thriving. As a woman of Indigenous Caribbean heritage, everything about these products resonates with me, and affirms my connection to my higher self. This connection weaves a tapestry of the magic of the Divine Feminine as a place that I can return to whenever I use these products, and find peace.
Gifts That Give Back: Oshun Griot’s very foundation is rooted in helping people of color to find resources, support, and comfort in a world where their fertility problems are often ignored. Their app is designed to support well-being through education, community, and affirmation.
Retail Price: Oshun Griot’s Season of Survival healing boxes retail for $99.
Where to Find Them: Find Oshun Griot products on their WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Healing, minority and indigenous-centered, women wellness.
If sun protection had a heroine’s cape, it would look a lot like Line in the Sand’s UPF 50+ collection. This women-owned brand creates beautifully made swim dresses, leggings, and hats designed to shield your skin while keeping you comfortably stylish from the beach to the backyard. Their fabric delivers full-coverage UV protection without feeling heavy or restrictive—almost like armor woven from light itself.
Every purchase does double duty: 100% of profits support cancer and ocean organizations. The heart behind the brand beats strong—founded by a leukemia warrior who understands firsthand how fragile skin can be under treatment and how essential it is to protect it. If you’ve ever wished for clothing that has your back (and your shoulders… and your legs…) while also giving back, this is it.
Inspired By: Line in the Sand was born from a deeply personal need: after being diagnosed with leukemia, Lynne O’Brien learned she was at significantly higher risk for melanoma. Instead of shrinking her world, she expanded it — creating UPF 50+ clothing that empowers women to stay outdoors, stay active, and stay protected. What began as a personal solution evolved into a mission-driven brand that funds cancer support and ocean preservation through every single product sold. It’s sun-safe gear with a purpose stitched into every seam.
Siobhan’s Review: After diving into the brand’s story—and speaking directly to Lynne O’Brien, the founder — I knew they deserved a place in our guide.
The Swim Dress immediately caught my eye. It’s the kind of piece that feels like a quiet confidence booster: something you can throw on and suddenly feel both covered and elegant. Pair it with their 3/4 Swim Leggings and you get this brilliant “soft armor” effect—protective, lightweight, and freeing at the same time. I can picture so many of our cancer survivors wearing this combo during those first brave steps back into the sun after treatment when your skin feels tender and the world feels too bright.
And then there’s the Cape Town Hat — wide, dramatic, and full of personality. Just like me. It’s the kind of hat that makes you feel like you’re stepping into a postcard… but one that’s also watching out for your skin. When I can step out onto a farm field again that hat goes with me.
What I love most is the heart behind all of it. As someone navigating chemo pills myself, I understand how vulnerable your skin becomes. Products created by someone who lives that reality hit differently. They’re not guessing what we need — they know.
LLine in the Sand is more than clothing; it’s a reminder that we can still claim sunlight safely, joyfully, and boldly.
Gifts That Give Back: : Line in the Sand donates 100% of profits to cancer and ocean organizations — a rare and beautiful full-circle mission. When you purchase a piece, you’re not just protecting your own skin; you’re helping protect the planet and supporting cancer warriors who need it most.
Retail Price: Line in the Sand fashion and accessories vary by item. From $45 to $198.
Where to Find Them: Discover all the great Line in the Sand apparel and accessories on their WEBSITE
Why We Love it: HSPF protection, Gives back, Cancer survivor-founded, stylish coverage.
The Acorns Project™ creates meaningful, intention-filled gifts inspired by the enduring symbolism of the acorn—hope, strength, prosperity, growth, and new beginnings. Each item feels like a tiny beacon of encouragement, crafted to uplift anyone facing life’s highs or lows. Their real hand-painted acorns arrive in beautiful keepsake boxes that feel like you’re opening a treasure meant just for you. From celebration moments to comfort gifts, these pieces carry an unmistakable message: small things can hold mighty power.
Inspired By: The Acorns Project™ began with a dream the founder had during a difficult financial chapter in her life—a dream that became a reminder to never give up. That dream grew into a collection of symbolic, handcrafted gifts designed to share hope, resilience, and new beginnings with others. Each acorn represents the belief that even the smallest seed can grow into something extraordinary.
Siobhan’s Review: When my package from The Acorns Project arrived, I didn’t expect to be swept up in such instant delight — but I opened it and fell head over heels. The tiny hand-painted acorns are magical. Each one is completely unique, full of color, story, and intention. They arrive nestled in a jewelry-style box that feels like you’re about to discover a cherished heirloom.
The outer box itself is gorgeous, covered in painted acorns — beautiful enough that you could wrap a ribbon around it and slide it under the tree. Truly a gift that does double duty.
And then there was the bonus: their Paint Kit. I’m a crafty person at heart, so this was a joyful surprise. I plan to spend time this holiday season painting the acorns inside… and then head out to hunt for more tree nuts so I can add to my little collection with pieces I decorate myself.
It’s a rare thing to find a gift that feels personal, symbolic, and genuinely enchanting. The Acorns Project does all of that — and more.
Gifts That Give Back: The Acorns Project™ is built on intention and connection. Daniela Vitali, Founder and Chief Acorn Officer, has created products to offer hope, inspiration, and emotional support — the kind of gifts that become keepsakes. With every purchase, you’re supporting a female founder who turned a difficult season into something beautiful for others.
Retail Price: Mystique Box – $35, Paint Kits – $27.
Where to Find Them:WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Symbolic meaning, Hand-painted, Heart-driven, Keepsake quality.
Gerry Shepherd shares her journey with congenital heart disease in her memoir Gerry and Her Pacemakers. Born in 1989 with congenital heart disease, she has undergone six open heart surgeries, three pacemakers, and many more surgical procedures. The book shares what she wished she had known, the mistakes and joys along the way, and the wonderfulness she was able to find in life.
Inspired By: Gerry Shepherd knows what it is like to go through constant hospital visits and to manage the emotional rollercoaster of recovery. She hopes that through the book people are able to find a little bit of solace and see a bit of light.
Siobhan’s Review: Siobhan’s Review: A book about heart disease, you say? Why include it in a Cancer Bites gift guide? Because there’s crossover—not the musical kind, but the life kind. Chronic illness touches every corner of your life. And yes, your husbands see their fair share of tears, even if they’d rather crawl under a bush than witness them, feeling utterly helpless. We don’t know what the future holds—no one does—and there’s the rub. When a life-threatening disease shows up, it’s no longer a matter of “if” but “when.” It stares you in the face and says, Lady, you are going to die. The only choice left is how you will meet it when it comes knocking
Gifts That Give Back: 15% of profits are donated each year to charities which have touched Gerry's life.
Retail Price: Hardcover and paperback editions of Gerry and Her Pacemakers available on Amazon for $25 and $10.50, respectively.
Where to Find Them: Learn more about the book at the author’s WEBSITE
Why We Love it: Heartwarming, practical advice, humorous.
Sneak Peek Into Our February 2026 Gift Guide: Due to shipping challenges, these products didn’t arrive in time for a full review, but we wanted to give you an early look at the exciting brands coming your way!
Happy Rosy Day is a gourmet-tea and joyful lifestyle brand based in the Bay Area — every sip helps bring clean drinking water to people in need. Visit them at happyrosyday.com
The Lauren Ashtyn Collection creates handcrafted, 100% European Remy human hair toppers that help women facing hair loss feel like themselves again — confident, whole, and beautifully restored. Explore their transformative pieces at thelaurenashtyncollection.com
KickIt Recovery Wear was created by cervical cancer survivor Cindy Trice to bring comfort, dignity, and thoughtful design to patients healing from surgery, chemo, or long hospital stays. Explore their compassionate, survivor-designed apparel at kickitpajamas.com
Glo Formation’s Luxe Glo Daytime Face Oil is a 24K-gold infused, botanical-rich formula created to bring comfort, radiance, and gentle nourishment to skin in recovery or everyday life. Discover their women- and minority-owned, give-back skincare line at gloformation.com
Set Forth NY creates healing-focused candles born from loss, resilience, and the quiet rituals that carry us through. Explore their intentional, hand-poured line at setforthny.com
To every brand who joined us for this year’s Gifts That Heal & Give Back Guide (Vol. 2) — thank you for showing up with heart, purpose, and generosity. Your products carried stories, intention, and beauty, and each one added a new layer of comfort, joy, and meaning to this project. You reminded us once again that a gift can be far more than an object — it can be a connection, a hug, a little spark of hope handed from one person to another.
These are not just gift guides — they are living collections of stories: resilience and generosity, healing and artistry, invention born of need, heartwork shaped by small-business bravery, late-night crafting, spirit-led missions, lived experience, and grief alchemized into purpose. They honor the quiet, powerful ways people show up for one another.
A huge thank-you to our brilliant writer and editor, Kaylen Michealis, who turned my avalanche of emails, late-night notes, and photo evidence of my scribbly, sideways, spiraling lists into a seamless, thoughtful, joy-forward guide. Kaylen, you somehow take the chaos I hand you and spin it into clarity, warmth, and structure without losing an ounce of heart. I don’t know how you do it, but I’m grateful every single time.
My gratitude also goes to John at New Leaf Technologies, who once again said “Yes, I’ve got it” before I even finished explaining what needed to be done. Your ability to take my whirlwind ideas and turn them into something polished, functional, and beautiful — and on a deadline that defies logic — is nothing short of wizardry. You make the technical magic happen so these guides can shine.
To the brands whose packages are still traveling their way toward me and our freinds at Carakit, www.carakit.com whose board I sit on. you are officially part of our Honorable Mentions list, and I can’t wait to feature you in our next guide. Your work matters, your missions matter, and you’ll have a spotlight soon. You can hear Carakit founder's living with breast cancer story on Cancer Bites Podcast.
To all of you — creators, collaborators, helpers, cheerleaders, and bringers of joy — thank you for making Guide #2 possible. Your kindness, creativity, and commitment keep this community moving forward with courage and light.
With gratitude,
Siobhan Shaw
Founder, Cancer Bites Podcast & Community
Co-Founder, GrowingtoGive.org
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