Timely nuggets of information and ideas we want to share with you.

Aspen & Arlo has great wrapping paper. What caught my eye this year were the cat and dog themed Christmas wrapping papers. They have over 20 different designs with dogs featuring many breeds, and maybe 7 for cats (hmmph). A 6-foot roll is $19.99.

ASE reader Phoebe D. told us about Ullo Uno Wine Purifying Wands. They claim to remove sulfites and histamines from your glass of red or white wine. Many people suffer side effects from the sulfites in wine. The most common side effects are headaches and upset stomach. This filter technology keeps all the wine tannin, flavors, and aromas in your wine glass. The wands are plant-based and recyclable. We truly hope they work well, and we know one person who could not drink wine because of the sulfites and histamines. She used the Ullo Uno wands and said they worked perfectly!

A set of four is $9.74.

I met a woman on my last trip who always brings a small portable CO (carbon monoxide) detector when she travels. CO is a noxious gas and is invisible and has no smell. If a furnace or fuel-burning appliance malfunctions, CO is emitted. CO can cause headaches, nausea, fatigue, brain damage or death. Portable CO monitors should be:

Battery operated.
Meet specifications of a reputable testing laboratory

If you rent Airbnbs, or stay in hotels when traveling, a travel CO monitor is a useful additional safety device. CO is an incomplete combustion of fuels like natural gas, propane, wood, and gasoline. If your travel accommodation uses any of those fuels, there is a risk of CO emissions.

The First Alert battery operated plug-in travel CO monitor gets very good reviews. The battery is a battery-backup in case power is lost. It is UL Certified It measures 5” W x 1.4” D x 3.4” H and is on sale at Amazon for $18.00, reduced from $46.99. It emits a loud (85 decibel) alarm when CO levels are detected.

I love suggestions that make one’s life easier. I came across a Reddit thread that asks “What’s your ‘I can’t believe other people don’t do this’ hack!” There are MANY great ideas on the thread. I liked this one –