So far, my holiday gift guides have all revolved around running, sports, and fitness. But what do you get for your favorite person who is owned by a cat? Obviously, something for the cat.
Gifts the Human and Cat Can Enjoy Together
Anything from Purrfect Play. https://purrfectplay.com/ My old cat, Mr. Potter, preferred the wool ping pong balls (they are solid, not hollow). I remember once when Mom was visiting, they played a game for hours: Mom would roll the ball into Mr. Potter’s cardboard box, and Mr. Potter would roll it back out again. My current master, Professor Nick Sterling, rather prefers the wool dust bunnies. There’s usually one under the bed, and one under the dining room table, thought which is where changes every so often. I don’t have a doggo, but I assume the products for puppers are equally awesome. Purrfect Play specializes in toys made of natural materials that are made in the USA. Basically Pam is terrific, her products are quality, and she gives 5% back to animal shelters. So you pretty much cannot go wrong. Support a small business and get the kitty in your life (or your friend’s) some toys.
Professor Nick Sterling, Space Kitty Express customer
Gifts for the Cat Who Just Needs to Get Stoned
Anything from Space Kitty Express. https://spacekittyexpress.com/ Got a cat? You need some Space Kitty Express toys. Especially if your cat doesn’t seem to care for catnip. Before I got Mr. Potter, I assumed all cats liked catnip. Nope, not him. Not regular catnip. Not organic catnip. I even went so far as to get fresh catnip for Mr. Potter, and his response was to pick it out of the bowl and throw it on the floor while berating me for trying to make him eat vegetables. But then my friend Cherylanne and her cat Phasma turned me on to Space Kitty Express. Professor Nick Sterling is partial to silvervine, which I use to refill his Kick Stick, though he also likes the special blend. I also like to give him silvervine sticks, in the hopes he will stop stealing my pens. (Not yet. I’m optimistic though.) He also enjoys the refillable fuzzy mice, while I enjoy one less toy that will end up in the garbage when it loses its scent (because I just refill the mouse, and the Professor acts like it is brand new. If you have any doubt that there are acceptable alternatives to catnip, just check out the Space Kitty Express instagram feed. (Pro tip: that’s also a great place to go if you are having a bad day.) Another small business that deserves your love.
Professor Nick Sterling is definitely innocent.
Gifts for the Discerning Decorator
The Scratchy Ramp. https://scratchypaw.com/product/scratchy-ramp/ Mr. Potter LOVED to scratch, and he took great pains to extensively “personalize” the first sofa I had. (This is why I chose denim slipcovers–easy to mend with old jeans, and automatic shabby chic cred, right?) I thought I’d try to make Professor Nick Sterling at home in the new house by getting him a ramp (he previously used a stack of boxes as stairs up to the bed) but he was NOT at all interested in using this ramp to get up to the bed, so I thought it was going to be a fail. Turns out he just needed to be incentivized to scratch on it (I sprinkled it with some catnip alternatives from Space Kitty Express). I also learned he prefers horizontal scratching (whereas Mr. Potter preferred vertical scratching). Currently the ramp is flattened out and held aloft by a cube storage unit from Target in front of a window, great for birb-watching and hissing-out the neighborhood cats. It’s scratched on daily and shows no wear after a year. The new model has a replaceable carpet deck. They also have a 30-day return period, so if your cat hates it (unlikely), you can send it back. I don’t know if it is still going on, but I saw there was two-for-one sale last week, so you might look.
Professor Nick Sterling has decided that collar are canceled, but he has a lovely bowtie collection.
Gifts for Felines with Cattitude
The handsomest cats wear bow ties. Try Business Catual https://www.businesscatual.com/ or Sweet Pickles Designs http://www.sweetpicklesdesigns.com/ for a variety of fetching kitty bow ties. (You can probably put them on a smaller dog too. I won’t tell.) Bonus: both are based here in Portland, Oregon. For kitty’s sake, please choose a breakaway collar. If your cat is exceptionally clever, he may invite you to play a game of hide and seek with collar and bow-tie as the “hider” and you as the “seeker.”
Gifts for the Cat Who Has Everything
A charitable endowment. If the cat already has everything, you can also donate cash or presents to your local animal shelter. I’m currently partial to the East Bay SPCA because that’s where I met Professor Nick Sterling, but there are any number of pet, cat, and kitten rescues that could use your help. Many keep a wish list on Amazon. You can also check your local pet shop for a pet “gifting tree” or other opportunities to donate goods to a local shelter or rescue operation.
Got Cats?
What are your best finds for the owned-by-a-cat-people in your life? Bonus points if your recommendation is from a small business!
Disclosure: This post is inspired, in part, by the recent online Gluten Free Expo, sponsored by the Gluten Intolerance Group and presented by the Nourished Festivals. I was not asked to write a blog post–and per usual, everything in here is mine (thoughts, opinions, ideas).
(c) Styled Stock Society
I can’t wait to see my family for Thanksgiving and many of my friends are just as excited for Hanukkah, Christmas, and all of the other winter celebrations. The first year we had our annual family Thanksgiving extravaganza after I stopped eating meat, my parents were very concerned that I was somehow going to starve during the week I spent at home. I love them for stocking up on all of the frozen veggie burgers and such, but it really wasn’t necessary (I was perfectly happy to gorge myself on the mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, turkey-free “stuffing,” cranberry sauce, green salad, and other meat-free items). Eventually they got used to the idea that I didn’t need special pretend-meat items for every meal. I’m lucky this isn’t a food allergy, and that the majority of the world is pretty easy to navigate as a vegetarian.
Later on in life, my Bonus Mom (that’s Dad’s wife, they got married long after us kids moved out of the house, so “Stepmother” sounds weird and also she’s not some meanie from a fairy tale) had to follow a low-FODMAP diet one year due to a health issue. We were all pretty baffled, as we found out at the last minute and didn’t have time to adjust our plans. When we asked her what was on the “no list,” she was frustrated and baffled herself, as it was a new-to-her situation.
What is a Food Allergy?
Let’s start at the beginning: a food allergy is not a personal choice. When a person with a food allergy eats that food, their immune system kicks up a fuss. The body produces extra histamines–the chemicals that cause inflammation–as they go on attack. The results might be itching, hives, or a rash; side-effects can include constipation or diarrhea or vomiting; severe side effects might include swelling of the throat (cutting off the ability to breathe) or an anaphylactic reaction–a severe, life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. The symptoms might last a few hours or a few days.
Even a very small amount of an allergen can cause serious, life-threatening reactions in some people. A food allergy is very different from a personal preference (a la “I went gluten-free because [celebrity name here] told me it was the best”). Not that I’m saying you should ignore a guest’s food preferences, but an allergy is not the same as choosing not to eat something!
Food allergies are common! About 5% of all adults in the U.S. have a food allergy. Food allergies are more common in children. Since you can’t see a food allergy, your guest might not have an obvious need for accommodation. If you don’t ask, you won’t know. If you’re a guest, remember that–it’s important to let people know!
Know the Top Eight. The top food allergens are: cow milk/dairy, eggs, tree nuts (including but not limited to walnuts, pine nuts, cashews, pistachios, almonds, Brazil nuts), peanuts (which are legumes and not tree nuts), shellfish, wheat (including but not limited to gluten, a component of wheat), soy, and fish.
Be a Gracious and Communicative Guest
If you have a food allergy or other dietary limitation, or another allergy, please tell your hosts! Be clear about what your limitations are and how they can be accommodated. For example, most people do not know that “gluten free” is not the same as “safe for people with Celiac disease.” They don’t know they can’t use the same knife on the gluten-free pizza that they used on the wheat-pizza.
(c) Styled Stock Society
Teach people how to feed you. If you can, make up your own “guide to safely feeding me,” with bullet points of tips and lists of “safe for me” foods. Offer it as a way to help your host learn, and make it clear you’re not demanding all food in the house follow “your” rules. Definitely include a definition of your allergy and how serious it is (will you sniffle, or is there a chance you’ll die?). You might include a link to your favorite medical website that addresses your allergy, a favorite food blogger.
Help keep yourself fed. The typical advice is to offer to bring a dish you know you can eat to the meal. I’m writing this in the context of allergies, but as a vegetarian I’m always bringing something substantial to ensure I get fed. If it’s appropriate, offer up a dish! Of course I’ve also packed emergency food in my suitcase (just in case).
Have an allergic-reaction plan and share it. This seems like a no-brainer, but if you have a plan and have not shared it, in the event you become incapacitated no one else will know what to do! If you have an epi-pen in your purse/pocket at all times that’s great, but someone else needs to know when to use it.
Be a Warm and Safe Host
Ask your guests about allergies. You don’t want to accidentally poison your guests! Find out what they allergy is, and ask how severe it is. Do they need the allergen to stay 6′ away from them? Or just not in their food. One of my parents’ friends was allergic to eggs. While visiting a friend in the hospital he was there long enough to need to eat a meal. In the cafeteria, he asked for a grilled cheese sandwich–no eggs in that, right? When he ate the sandwich, he went into anaphylactic shock. Why? The grill had eggs on it earlier in the day, and while the grill was scraped down/wiped down in standard restaurant practice, that’s not good enough to prevent cross-contamination. (He was in a hospital, so got prompt medical attention, and lived many more years.) ASK QUESTIONS. A guest with food allergies will appreciate you trying to accommodate them!
(c) Styled Stock Society
Ask your guests for tips and suggestions. Maybe they have a favorite recipe, meal suggestion, online resource, or other pointer for you. Again, ASK QUESTIONS.
Educate yourself about best practices. This is super important if your guest has a serious food allergy (one that might kill them) or has Celiac disease. For example, you should assume that any kitchen implement that is porous–made of wood, stone, cast iron, etc.–is NOT safe to use on the allergen you’re trying to avoid. Assume your best bet is to use a fresh/clean pan for the allergen-free dishes (one that hasn’t just been used to cook something with the allergen in it). Head over to Laulima Kitchen for up-to-date information about a Celiac-safe kitchen (and grab her “10 Ways to Keep Your Kitchen Celiac Safe” while you are there).
Include allergy-friendly dishes. In most cases this isn’t that hard to do. I once made dinner for a group that included vegans (so no meat, dairy, eggs, honey in those dishes) as well as different people with allergies to potatoes, chicken, onions, and bell pepper. I wrote out my plan on paper to make sure I had enough options for everyone, and it wasn’t nearly as difficult as I’d imagined–I made two crock pot dishes and a soup, and served the meal with an appetizer cheese and veggie tray, bread, salad, store-bought hummus, and fresh fruit for dessert.
Learn about local allergy-friendly restaurants. Local bloggers are often your best bet for finding a safe place to eat a meal out, and this is especially true for those with Celiac disease. If you’re not sure about your favorite, call them up and ask. Do they have items on the menu that might be appropriate? What about kitchen prep? (If your guest has Celiac, potatoes cooked in a shared fryer–one where a wheat-batter-coated onion rings once fried–eating those potatoes can make them sick for a few days. Yuck.)
Don’t Forget the Non-Food Allergies!
While this post has focused on food allergens, there are plenty of people who are allergic to other things. Just like food allergens, non-food allergens can send the immune system into overdrive and produce symptoms from mild (runny nose, slightly itchy eyes) to the severe and life-threatening (anaphylaxsis).
Indoors: Pets and Pests and More, Oh My! The top non-food allergens inside your home include pets (cats, dogs, and others!), pests (dust mites, cockroaches), latex, pollen, mold, medications, perfume/fragrance (including essential oils), and medication. The number one thing you can do to help your guests with allergies is to deep-clean everything; rugs, carpets, drapes, and bedding can all harbor pet hair and pet dander, pests, pollen, and more. Mom used to choke when the air had strong fragrances and perfumes, as it exacerbated her asthma. (Not really an allergy, but equally unpleasant.) Hot tips indoors:
Steam clean carpeting and rugs
Wash drapes and bedding in hot water and dry thoroughly
Avoid scented laundry detergent and soaps for bedding and towels (I use Dropps unscented)
Dust using a microfiber cloth
Avoid using heavily-scented cleaning products (or air out the house after cleaning)
Avoid air fresheners, including essential oil diffusers
Stock your medicine chest with an over-the-counter allergy medication
If you live in a moist climate, run a dehumidifier and ensure air circulation in closets and around furniture to avoid mold growth (I live in Oregon–this IS a thing)
Groom your pet (a bath and a brushing go a long way to remove both dander and other items that may get trapped in pet hair/fur)
If your guest has a pet allergy, find out well in advance how severe the allergy is. I have a cat, and I have many friends with cat allergies. Some of my friends are fine staying in my house for a weekend as long as they have an over-the-counter allergy tablet; others are so allergic that they will break out in hives if the cat rubs against them. You might be able to keep your pet and your guest separated if they have a mild allergy, but for a more serious allergy your guest might be better off in a hotel.
Outdoors. The nice part about outdoor allergies in the winter is that they tend to be less of a problem, at least in places like Michigan where the air turns crispy and everything gets covered in snow. (If you’re out in the Pacific Northwest, mold allergies can still be ugly in the winter.) Top outdoor allergens include pets (hey, dogs go outdoors!), insect stings, and pollens. Insect allergens include biting (mosquito, horse fly) and stinging (wasp, bee, yellow jacket, fire ants) insects. Pollens from trees, flowers, and grasses can cause misery almost all year long. Hot tips:
Pollen can be problematic almost all year: tree pollen is most common in spring, weed pollen in summer and fall, and grass pollen in summer. If your guest is very allergic, it’s nice to move some of the party indoors.
To avoid attracting insects–you may attract them, but they can bite/sting who they choose–don’t wear perfume/cologne or use heavily scented products for outdoor events.
Have bug repellant products on hand for outdoor gatherings
Consider careful use of bug repellant products (such as candles, sprays, bug zappers, and sonic products) to keep pests away from your gathering.
In addition to an over-the-counter allergy tablet, add topical anti-inflammatory and anti-itch products to your medicine cabinet
(c) Styled Stock Society
Got Tips?
What are your best pointers for hosting an allergy-friendly meal?
What are the best things you can do for a guest with allergies in your home to make them feel comfortable?
The holidays are coming, in case your email inbox isn’t jammed full of pre-Black Friday offers or you otherwise somehow missed it. Wondering what to get the runners in your life to show them you care? Let’s start with essential safety gear. Bonus: all of these suggestions work for cyclists and others who might be outdoors at night. Many of these brands are offering the same or similar deals at your local running and cycling shops, so shop local if you can.
Be Safe, Be Seen
Best High-Visibility Product
NoxGear Tracer. My favorite way to be seen, hands down. The original (as far as I know!) product is the Tracer360 vest, and personally I think everyone who runs at night should own one. Essentially it is a lightweight, minimal “vest” that you wear over your regular running clothes. (More of a belt that has loops that go over your shoulders–doesn’t add bulk.) The shoulder straps light up, and there are both solid color and flashing pattern options.
Now rechargeable!
The newer model, Tracer2, is lighter because it doesn’t use batteries. This vest is rechargeable using the included USB-C cable. There is also a brand new TracerLamp that you click into the front buckle on the Tracer2.
When it’s dark outside, there’s no way you’ll be missed. Oh, and if you’re out walking the dog? Get your pup a LightHound. Save 35% on your order at https://www.noxgear.com/ref/TrainWithBain/ (I am an ambassador and this is an affiliate link).
ProViz. A few years ago I won one of these jackets in an online contest, and I still cannot believe my luck. The fabric seems like a grey/silver until light shines on it and then BOOM! it lights up like someone plugged it into a socket. (sturdy and long-lasting too, so think of this as an investment in your night wardrobe forever.) No photo I take will do it justice, so I highly recommend you go look at their website. ProViz makes sport-specific safety clothing for runners and cyclists, and also has a line of general activewear including fleece lined visibility gear for less sweaty endeavours. The 2020 Black Friday deal was 20% off everything; I bet they do similar each year. https://www.provizsports.com/en-us/
Knuckle Lights. Useful for all situations where you might run in the dark, from casual night jogs to ultrarunning events. Knuckle lights strap to your hands, just like the name indicates, and increase your visibility in two ways: (1) your literal visibility to others (traffic, cyclists, other runners, etc.) and (2) your visibility in the sense that you can better see the path in front of you. There’s a money-back satisfaction guarantee, and a five-year warranty, so you’ve pretty much got nothing to lose. I’m proud to share the love, since Knuckle Lights is based in Oregon. https://knucklelights.com/
Brilliant Reflective by 3M. If the runner in your life is picky about gear, or likes maximum options, you can help them make the gear they already own and love reflective. Brilliant Reflective Strips come in both stick on (temporary, pull back off) and iron on (more of a permanent solution) options. This is one of the least expensive ways to up your visibility, and you can add it to your clothing, bike helmet, or even your bike! There are multiple varieties and colors too. https://brilliantreflective.com/
Image from the Safety Skin website
Safety Skin. We all know that one guy who runs in shorts and a tank top, year round, regardless of weather or temperature. If that’s you or the runner in your life, Safety Skin is for you. Safety Skin is basically a deodorant-like stick with a wax base that you put directly onto your skin. This makes it easy to put a reflective strip anywhere on your body, regardless of whether you’ve got clothing there. There’s a sunblock option too. https://www.safetyskinproducts.com/
Other Options. When looking at winter running or cycling gear, keep an eye out for gear with reflective properties. Most major brands have at least one line of tights, pants, shorts, etc. that has a reflective strip or pattern on it. Gear can also have reflective properties, for example on a SPI belt or an Amphipod hand-held bottle. Staying seen is one of the top ways to avoid getting hit!
I’ve looked around, and there is really no substitute at all for a Road ID. It’s superior to carrying just your phone since most phones screen lock, and even better than a drivers license since the Road ID can get crucial medical or allergy information to responders that your state-issued ID cannot. I’m so in love with the Road ID that I personally own three or four (I have one that was specific to the original FitBit, obviously I’m not using that one anymore…). No one likes to think about it, but what happens if you are out on a run, by yourself, and something awful happens–you get hit by a car, you have a heart attack or a stroke? Road ID helps make sure first responders and emergency personnel can help you appropriately. I’m a wrist ID person, though I’ve used the velcro on the bands to connect my Road ID to my running vest. I bought one for my Dad, I bought one for the family dog. If your arm party is already strong, you can get a Road ID to attach to your running watch, your Apple watch, or your shoe. My favorite part of Road ID is the connectivity part: in the event I am unable to assist first responders, there is a code on the ID they can use to access my essential medical details (which I keep updated) and my emergency contact list. The cost for this is minimal, even for the low mileage I run each year. Peace of mind for all of my family, too. Did I mention the engraving is guaranteed for life? Road ID also has an app that allows people YOU select to follow you in real time, which is super useful if you have an accident and can’t tell your family which hospital you are headed to. Current sale is 20% off, and up to 80% off of the clearance items. https://www.roadid.com/
Be Safe, Stay Connected
Wearsafe Tag. If you find yourself in an unsafe situation or suddenly needing help, the Wearsafe Tag is your best friend. When you get the tag, you download an app and set up your contacts list. If you find yourself needing help, you just push the button on the tag. The app alerts your contacts that something is wrong and sends them a live audio feed. Your contacts can use the app’s group chat feature to coordinate a response–which might mean going to you directly, or might mean calling 911. The tag vibrates to let you know someone has seen your alert, and you can press the button again to let them know you’re okay–the app will turn blue to alert them you’re okay. It’s easy to strap or clip the tag to your running gear. If you have a friend who runs alone and you worry, this is the perfect gift. https://wearsafe.com/
Be Safe, Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Shokz (fka Aftershokz). Regardless of whether you’re running at night or during the day, the number one thing you can do to promote your own safety is to stay aware of your surroundings. Unfortunately, many runners go out wearing noise-canceling headphones that impede their ability to hear what is going on around them, from other runners to approaching cyclists to cars. (Really, it just takes one bicycle-runner collision to really mess up your body.) I’ve been a huge fan of Shokz for a long time. Instead of buds that sit in your ears and block out other sound, Shokz sit outside of your ears and use bone-conduction technology. This means you can hear everything going on around you. Fun fact: there are also waterproof Shokz that swimmers can use! I also have the OpenComm, which is the same idea but with a boom mic; it’s been great during pandemic work Teams calls, and I find it improves sound quality when I’m teaching over Zoom. Sign up for their email list to learn about discounts. https://shokz.com/
Be Helpful: What’s Your Go-to Gift for Runner (and Athlete) Safety?
Drop me your favorites! What’s the best gadget, piece of clothing, or product that helps keep you safe while you’re out? What do you secretly hope to find under the tree, in your stocking, or waiting for you wherever your presents appear?
