10 ideas for your Christmas list (that you won't have to buy)
I have always done my shopping at the last possible minute - I don’t even think about presents until the 20th. This year is different. I have been thinking about presents a lot and not in a positive way. Normally my family buys smaller gifts for under the tree but we also buy experiences. My friends and I pick what experience we want to do the following year and book it. 2020 has been all up in the air and everything has been cancelled, postponed and on hold - no one knows what is happening in 2021. On top of all that, my employment status has taken a drastic hit this year - now I have had some of the most amazing things happen to me as well, but as my family won’t be able to get together this year I asked for a pause on the presents until we could meet up (all of us) at some point next year.
However, I love presents - not the physical act of getting a present but the emotional connection from someone thinking about you and giving you a gift tailored for your personality, I feel seen. So, I wanted to share what is on my Christmas shopping list this year and I won’t have to buy anything. I have also added some examples to start you on your way and connecting with the people you love without buying or (in some cases) seeing them.
On December 19th, London and south east London went into tier 4, which means that many of people will no longer be able to go to see their families for Christmas. My heart goes out to all those affected, please let me know if you are alone and we can talk, facetime, meet - this post was written before the announcement and it rings even more true now!
The Allergy Table’s Christmas shopping list 2020
Write a letter
This year has really messed up my social life, and I haven’t seen some of my friends since February and I haven’t seen my family (apart from my mum) in a year. It is hard, it sucks. Writing a letter to someone you haven’t seen in a while will make you happy and it is wonderful when you receive a hand-written letter in the post. Most of us do Christmas cards this time of year, but make the letter long. Make the letter special, personal, funny, sad and uplifting. You could even put a photo of both of you in with the letter. It is a nice thing to read how much someone values your friendship and love. Write a letter and send some love to a friend/family member you miss this year!
2. Plan a facetime
I am not sure about you, but I have been getting messages about zooms and facetimes a lot this year, and it is actually quite draining for me, but what I do love about facetime is that you can maintain a connection for people halfway across the world. As I will not be going home for Christmas this year, I will miss the little chats on the sofa with my aunt or the PlayStation game with my cousin. If you feel that way too, plan a facetime with them, but separately. A massive zoom with your whole family might be on the cards already, but plan it so you can have a private convo with someone like you would normally and set it at a time so you don’t forget and miss it. My suggestion is after all the food when you don’t want to be doing anything but vegging.
3. Free e-books
There are so many e-books on the internet now, and most of them you have to purchase, but there are some that you can download for free or sign up to a newsletter and then get it (you can unsubscribe after you downloaded). You can even add the recipients email on Christmas day so they get to the downloadable book sent directly to their phone (or send the URL) with a note saying “I think you would like this”.
Examples:
The Allergy Table’s 12 days of Foodmas (Breakfast edition) Free until December 31st
The Allergy Tables Free guide to Finding the Joy in Meal Prep
Miss fit and nerdy’s free resources to kick start your healthy lifestyle in 2021
4. Trade a book you love
I do this already with a friend and we did it last year with my family. A lot of us go through lots of books every year, and whilst I do love putting a new one on my bookshelf, that is usually where they will stay. Most of us recommend books to people all the time, but handing them a book you love, and think they would love, is even more special. Plus, you then get to discuss the book and have something new to talk about. I have discovered so many wonderful books from this trade and it is a lovely tradition. This year I traded Heal for Animal Farm.
5. Post an IOU
IOU’s are fading, but I want them to make a comeback. Being able to say, “Hey, I want to meet you, and I am giving you a coupon so it will happen” is really helpful as you get older. I used to love giving my mum coupons as presents. They used to say “A 10 minute massage”, “A cooked dinner by Lindi”, “Lindi walks the dogs for one day” - I think she liked cashing them in as well!
Here are some printables for you to save to your phone and print or send in an email - make sure to fill your name out and the recipient!
6. Bake treats
This is hard as you would need to be living close enough to someone but if you do have friends that are alone this Chrismtas and you do live close, or if you have neighbours - bake or make a treat and leave it on their doorstep. Leave a note about the ingredients of course! This is so lovely (especially to anyone that doesn’t have food restrictions). It shows you spend time, energy and love to show another person you cared. Here are some examples of things to make and also some videos on making edible gifts!
Sophie Allen’s Simones tiramasu
Pick up limes edible gifts
7. A homemade coffee walk
If you have a friend or family member close by, or even someone you met on the GRAM, then you could both prepare a warm beverage at home and plan to meet in the park and talk. Physical exercise met with connection is the dream team for positive mental health. Find out if anyone is staying home (everyone in London - I’m free) and meet up with your hot bev (it can even be homemade mulled wine - it’s Christmas).
A couple of hot beverages you might enjoy
The Allergy Table’s cheap mulled wine
Ingredients
1 cup water
2 cups cheap red wine
1 clementine
1 stick cinnamon
1tsp vanilla extract
Method
Add water to saucepan, let boil - high temperature
Cut up the clementine (with skin on - like you would an orange)
Once water is boiling, reduce temp to medium/low
Add the wine, clementine, cinnamon, and vanilla to the saucepan
let simmer for 15 mins.
Serve.
The Nut Free Vegan Turmeric Golden Milk
The Nutless Baker Peppermint Syrup and Peppermint Hot Chocolate
8. Share a recipe
There is an array of holiday recipes on Instagram, Pinterest and blogs (mine included). You may not be around your family or friends this year, but you could send them a recipe that you all make separately but you all eat and can share in the experience of eating the same dish! Spokin has just come out with a collab of bloggers and had put together a list of 73 allergy-friendly cookie recipes for the holiday season. There are nut free, gluten free, dairy free cookies - something for everyone. See what you all prefer and bake one of them to enjoy the moment with your people! (Ps. I am one of them no.69)
Spokin blogger holiday cookie swap
I will be making Emily’s DOUBLE CHOCOLATE DIPPED COOKIES
9. Create a private Pinterest board
I love planning trips away, and whilst I haven’t done that this year, dreaming has still been going on. Create a private board with a friend where you both can but ideas, photos in it and plan your next holiday away. It gets you excited about the future and having that vision means it will more likely be a reality. (Make sure to make it private and keep it between yourselves, more fun that way).
10. Share a memory with photos
Sometimes you want to walk down memory lane when you are feeling low, I know I do. I like to look back at a time when I was ignorant about the future and everything seemed bliss - in hindsight I was still dealing with hard issues like I am now, that’s life, but with photos, videos and more it really helps to feel that warm feeling and to remember that you are loved, and good times are coming!
Christmas is different this year, but as you can see with all of these “presents”, the most important thing to me and hope to you, is connection - that is priceless. 2021 will come and we will be changed people, more adaptive and resilient to life than we thought we would ever be, but during this holiday/Christmas time, remember to stop, rest, reflect and connect.
Happy Holidays and stay safe!
Pin or save this for next year or any birthdays (you can even tick the one you did and share it on social media - tag @the.allergytable)