Christmas time is finally here, and I couldn’t be more excited for some joy and fun in the very stressful year of 2020. Every year I come out with a holiday/Christmas list that have 15 items and breaks things up by budget amount. This year I thought I’d just share a few of my favorite things, and then I’d share some of the businesses of my fellow spoonies. With the pandemic things are hard for everybody, so if you have anything to spare, I’m sure these spoonie shops would appreciate it.

My favorite things for 2020

1. Disability Visibility: First Person Stories from the Twenty First Century by Alice Wong

I’m slightly late to the party on this one, but I just finished this incredible book of real life stories from disabled people. It was amazing to see myself reflected in these stories. Even though most of the writers had very different disabilities than me, overall we have so much in common. This book is definitely worth a read for anyone with chronic illness, chronic pain, or a disability.

2. Book holder and stand

While generally I find it much easier to have a kindle and have all my books in the same place, I do still love to read actual books. I get a lot of books from the library, and not everything comes in an ebook. That’s where the book holder helpfully comes in because holding books open for a long period of time makes my hands hurt.

3. Shower Stool

Funny story about this one. For years I’ve told myself that I have a chronic illness, and that I can’t claim to be disabled. Covid 19 and the open hatred for people who are disabled and immuno compromised in the U.S. was what pushed me to finally admit that I’m disabled. Once I admitted that I decided to stop being stubborn and admit that showering tires me out. So I bought a shower stool and felt like an idiot for not buying one sooner. This is the one  got because my shower is kind of small

This one is what I’d get if I had more room:

 

4. Heated blanket

I had a heated blanket as a kid pre- chronic illness and it was one of my favorite things. On those bone cold days when you feel like you’ll never get warm, a heated blanket can make a difference. As much as I’m attached to my heating pad, a heated blanket would be even better.

5. Electric hand warmer

Back when I was in the high school band in Michigan we had to sit through football games with no extra clothing beyond our band uniforms (our instructor was ridiculous, I’m surprised no one got frost bite). By October we were freezing our butts off, so we’d buy those temporarily hand and foot warms and stick them in our socks and gloves. They didn’t work that well, but electric hand warmers are much better! I bought one of these for my Mom when she lived in NYC because I knew she’d freeze to death there. She loved hers and used it all the time. When you’re a spoonie, keeping warm in the winter is a priority.

6. Heated Eye Mask

Okay, I know a lot of these include heat, but heat really does help to reduce pain. Even though it’s not that wintery where I live, I love this mask. It’s soft and comfortable and it does wonders for my sinuses and headaches when I get them. I don’t know why the color is so ugly in the picture, mine is just a normal brown.

7. Migraine glasses for light sensitivity

I had a chance a few years ago to try Axon Optics migraine glasses. I loved them, but eventually they broke and they no longer have the kind I love. This year I’m asking to get TheraSpecs classic migraine glasses for light sensitivity for Christmas.

Supporting other spoonies

Support other spoonies this holiday seasons by reading their books or patronizing their businesses #spoonie #spooniebusiness Click To Tweet

If you’d love to support other spoonies in their endeavors, here’s some great options:

1. The Chronic Pain Manual: The really, real manual to pain

Nicky Albert from the Brainless Blogger has a great book about living with chronic pain.

2. Sunshine and Spoons etsy shop

Check out this amazing shirt on etsy from Sunshine and Spoons. She has a huge variety of chronic illness attire.

 

 

 

 

 

3. SweetSpoons Bakery

SweetSpoons Bakery is a catering business of pastries and desserts that ships anywhere in the US.  They specialize in custom creations and last minute occasions.  The owner has her own dietary restrictions so she can be relied upon for dairy and gluten free options at no extra cost.

4. Bright and SparklyJB

Bright and SparklyJB has gorgeous handmade creations such as this one.

5. Craft the Revolution

Craft the Revolution has some beautiful embroidery hoops. I love this Frida Kahlo one, she was a spoonie herself.

 

 

 

 

 

6. A Unique Life

A Unique Life is a UK based shop that features shirts for spoonies. They have some adorable Christmas spoon shirts as well as shirts for chronic illness.

 

 

 

 

 

7. Robu Roku

Robu Roku is run by a spoonie who believes “cute is the new black.” It has planner goods, enamel pins, and more.

8. Phatnote Designs

Phatnote Designs is run by spoonie Amy Stoner. She make crocheted goods and Jewelry. She does do custom orders.

9. Low Histamine Kitchen Recipe Book and Living Well with Fibromyalgia

Claire at Through the Fibro Fog has a brand new recipe book for the low histamine diet. She also has a book about “Living well with fibromyalgia.”

10. Spoonie Sister Shop

I was so excited to see this Spoonie shop in my home state of Texas. They have some amazing spoonie apparel as well as other gifts and accessories.

 

Edited to add: I missed a few spoonie shops that people might be interested in. Check out:

Gratitude Journal from the Anxious Poet

VI-Style Boutique from Lauren

 

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