Holiday Shopping

I've just been doing my shopping for Christmas (and yes, you're all getting what you got last year ;o), and watching my cat run around as though he has a flea, although I can assure you he does not, he just likes to think he does sometimes...likes to pretend he's a "Big Boy".

Buying gifts for someone who has chemical sensitivity is a bit like trying to find Richard Branson the perfect gift. Obviously toiletries are out (see the previous post). Foods are also highly awkward, chocolates and wine...tummy aches written all over them. Anything made of plastic, vinyl, synthetic is right out. And flowers - well they are a problem too as not only are they likely to have been well treated with pesticides but they contain their own chemicals which can trigger nasty reactions (ask me about gladioli - actually don't).

Books seem a good idea - and many people with sensitivity can manage a book. I can't as the inks & other chemicals cause me problems...audio books on the other hand have no such issue. DVDs can be ok as well, though they take a lot of cognitive energy & not everyone with chemical sensitivity can manage the concentration of a whole movie.

Here, we like things such as photographs or video (of you - rather than just of some random strangers).

Donations to charities are always fantastic:
http://www.aessra.org
http://www.mecfs-vic.org.au
http://www.anzmes.org.nz

You can also do what we often do & give people goats, ducks or chickens through agencies such as World Vision, Save the Children, Amnesty - whichever cause best suits your own beliefs & desires to make a difference in the world. It puts a smile on the face of the person receiving any gift such as this.

Vouchers for books, music (real or digital) are a good couple of options. Always usable.

In our home we are signed up to "The Cult of Less" - not as bad as it sounds :o) - we are cultivating having less "stuff" in our home. The stuff we do have we try to hang on to only the very practical. It's not that we don't like "stuff" - we do. It's just easier to dust this way & so many things are available digitally. Once I can convince my husband that he can use an eReader instead of having so many books I think we'll see a big reduction!

And if you're really into stuff then I guess just make sure it's organic, unbleached, recycled, whatever you like (sounds a bit like our toilet paper hmmm...Mum, I just had a brilliant idea for a gift for you :o).

Best of all you can send your love. 'Cause that's all we really need here.

And if you're buying for Richard Branson, skip the cufflinks this year, I'll bet what he'd really love is a toilet or a tap for drinking water (in a country where there's a scarcity of either).

If you have any other brilliant ideas on "gifts for the chemically challenged" post them here!