SPECIAL DUMPSTER FIRE YEAR EDITION
Celiac and the Beast Holiday Gift Guide
2020
When life gives you lemons, make a whiskey sour cocktail
Welcome to the 2019 Holiday Gift Guide from Celiac and the Beast. Last year, this holiday letter wrote to you about a hard year of transitions transitioning into my life into early menopause, transitioning into a new job, and a new house. Little did I know that 2019 was going to be a breeze compared to 2020. 2020 brought us political and community unease, a global pandemic, and a whole lot of focusing on our lives - what matters, and what doesn't. Thankfully the end of 2020 is looking better with hopes of a vaccine (fingers and toes crossed). 2020 was a dumpster fire, a dangerous and dealy one. It's caused us to have days, weeks, months, and holidays that don't look like normal. But I'm hoping that as we re-examine what normal can really look like, that we have a beautiful, magical - and SAFE - holiday season. DISCLOSURE: As a professional content creator, some links in this guide are affiliate links that I may receive a portion of any sales made. However, I featured items in this guide because I genuinely care for them and think that they are great products.
Erica
Gifts for 2020 Dumpster Fire
I'm not sure that anyone wants to relive or remember this year. It's really shown us the worst of the worst. While unfortunately racism, conspiracy theories, selfishness, and anti-science rhetoric had its day in the sun in 2020, so did hope, community, and science.
This pandemic is serious, but if you make it out of this year alive and healthy, perhaps it will give you a better appreciation for your personal health, your community, public health, vaccines, and science in general. Maybe just maybe a trinket from this year might be what we need to be better in 2021.
CAN 2020 BE OVER YET?
Health and Wellness
It might not seem like a typical gift, but the best gift I can give someone is health and longevity and insight into their health that their own doctor isn't providing.
imaware™ autoimmune disease screening including celiac screening, monitoring, and rheumatoid arthritis screening - athome tests can provide the gift of knowledge to anyone 18 and over in the US. imaware.health
AT-HOME HEALTH TESTING
But imaware™ doesn't just offer autoimmune screening tests. You can purchase tests for: Baseline Heart Health Advanced heart health testing: Lipoprotein(a), LpPLA2, and Haptoglobin genetic testing Thyroid (TSH) Testosterone Prostate Cancer (PSA) Prediabetes Vitamin D and the more complete Women's and Men's Health and Wellness tests.
MORE FROM IMAWARE™
Just Thrive Probiotic + Antioxidant isn't like other probiotics. It's based on spores that survive better in the gut. It's 100% guaranteed that you'll love it! I take their digestive enzymes any time I eat outside of the house. Use code "CATB25" to save 25% Thanksgiving day and Black Friday! justthrivehealth.com
HAPPY HOLIDAY GUT HEALTH
Beauty Vibes
Red Apple Lipstick is makeup anyone can feel good about. Made for sensitive, gluten-free skin, explore the brand from lipstick to brushes, eyeshadows, and conditioning mascara! Use code "CATB" to save 22% off your order! RedAppleLipstick.com
DermaE clean, vegan, gluten-free beauty products are my daily routine. Day and night, DermaE keeps my skin clean and healthy. Everything is always vegan and gluten-free! DermaE.com
Going through menopause, pregnancy, or any other event where your hormones are going crazy? Check out Dr. Zenovia, from the same parent company as DermaE. This hormonal dermatology is what I need to keep my menopause acne in check! drzenovia.com
Housewares and Pantry Must Haves
Delilah Home makes certified organic bedding and towels (and even face masks). We're trying out their hemp bed sheet set and they're so soft! Hemp is the new linen, and you need these sheets! We have their organic cotton towels and they are luxurious and plush! delilahhome.com
Bartesian is just like having a bartender at home. Just add alcohol and toss in a cocktail pod. All syrups are gluten-free! Bartesian.com
Son of a Barista is a new coffee pod delivery system upgraded. They use fancy, delicious, fair, and ethical beans, and the system even has milk pods for a latte or green tea pods! It's also pretty affordable! sonofabarista.com
KITCHEN GADGETS
Kitchen gadgets make great gifts or stocking stuffers. Here are some of my favorite gifts for under $50 dollars. Tiki Ice Cub Molds and DIY Ice Cream Tubs, tovolo.com Cupcake Maker and Arepa Maker, HolsteinHousewares.com
Kitchen gifts keep giving all year 'round. Except Christmas mugs. Don't be that person drinking from a reindeer mug in July on Zoom calls. Abbio Large Skillet, abbiokitchen.com Staub Artichoke Ceramic Dish zwilling.com LeCreuset Holiday Mugs LeCreuset.com
You can't go wrong with a hostess gift from Rifle Paper Company like their hand towels or recipe card tins filled with some of your favorite gluten-free recipes. RiflePaperCo.com
Teach Me Gluten-Free
Books always make a great holiday gift. Regardless of how long we've been gluten-free, we could all use new and exciting recipes! Check out these great books and ebooks!
GLUTEN-FREE COOKBOOKS
You can't go wrong with a cookbook from No Gluten, No Problem - and creators Kelli and Peter Bronski. You must buy their newest No Gluten, No Problem Pizza cookbook! nogluten-noproblem.com
Have IBS? Gluten sensitive, but not celiac? It may help to eliminate FODMAPs, under the guidance of a dietitian. Once you're on the path to lowFODMAP, check out these two books from my friends, Kate Scarlata RDN, LDN, and Colleen Francioli, of FODMAP Life.
LOW-FODMAP FRIENDLY COOKBOOKS
If you're a little overwhelmed by the low-FODMAP diet, you might want to check out Epicured. This 100% gluten-free pre-made fresh meal delivery service is lowFODMAP friendly and everything I've tried is delicious! An Epicured gift card makes a great gift for someone struggling with low-FODMAP eating! Epicured.com
LOW-FODMAP FOOD DELIVERY
Is there anything better than making gluten-free things from scratch? Yes, plenty of things. But some of these DIY gluten-free kits help you make great baked goods a little easier! Get a DIY Layer Cake by one of my favorite GF and vegan bakeries, Petunia's Pies & Pastries. petuniaspiesandpastries.com
Want a gift that keeps giving? Get a subscription to Annie May's Cookie Club (top 8 free). anniemayscookieclub.com
DIY KITS
Little GF Chefs by Celiac Mama are kid-friendly baking kits! Help your kids learn how to bake glutenfree early and get delicious, safe, GF treats! littlegfchefs.com, get 10% off your first order with code "CeliacandtheBeast10"
Unfortunately most of the DIY kits out there are full of gluten, but luckily mochi (and most ice cream) is naturally gluten-free! UncommonGoods.com
Cat Mom + Dog Mom Swag
Stay Home Club is one of my favorite shops on the internet. They just get me. I am an indoor cat at heart that also can't have nice things, and you can wear it as a sweatshirt, patch or pin with pride. stayhomeclub.com
Does your cat rock a collar? Consider this handmade leather collar from White Oak Pastures - where every part of the animal is used in this sustainable farm. whiteoakpastures.com
CAT LADY MUST HAVES
You don't have to love cats to be a total weirdo. I know many of you are weirdo dog parents too. Don't pass up these ASPCA mugs from WestElm.com! Dog moms can deck out their wardrobe with dog mom shirts, and fill their jean jackets with dog-friendly patches and pins from Stay Home Club. stayhomeclub.com
DOG MOM
Other gluten-free Gift Ideas
This year, I was not able to attend any gluten-free expos and show off any new merch, but it's still all available at PunchGlutenInTheFace.com For all of those days that you want to wear celiac disease on your sleeve (or on your chest or your head), this website is for you!
PUNCH GLUTEN IN THE FACE
If you're a fan of Celiac and the Beast, you know I'm all about talking about poop. If you're open about number two with who knows, these gifts are for you. Slim Teak Contempo Squatty Potty, SquattyPotty.com Nice buttons, PooPourri.com Let that sh*t go bag, PooPourri.com Rectum plush, IHeartGuts.com
POOP THEMED GIFTS
Thank You Happy Holidays!