Making holiday holistic

As we move from Halloween toward Thanksgiving and ultimately Christmas, let me be the first to wish you a "Holistic Holiday."

Parents today are becoming more circumspect about what they buy for their families. We are all getting a little greener, and with the worry of chemicals, lead, etc., many are looking to get away from the hype and back to the basics.

To help parents simplify their search, the Holistic Moms of Chicago Southwest Suburbs has put together a Holistic Holiday gift fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 14 at Christ Community Church, 13400 Bell Road in Lemont.

"We are hoping to offer conscious holiday shopping by featuring fair trade and eco-friendly handmade, organic and natural products," said Holistic Moms' member Beth Bustos.

Bustos is one of the chapter's founding members. Four years ago, Bustos teamed up with friend Karen Hart and established the southwest chapter of the Holistic Moms.

What will you find at the fair? A lot, Bustos said. "Toys, children's books, pottery, baskets, hand-crafted items, natural cleaners, waste-free lunch ware, mini-massage sessions and more.

The fair will also feature someone doing bio-energetics allergy testing, which is quick and painless for kids, if the parents want to see what it is like to test for sensitivities.

"It's important for parents to set a good example," said Bustos. "Reusable products like lunch boxes send the right message not to be wasteful. Every bit counts."

The event will be a good learning lesson for kids, Bustos noted. "Kids need to know that people make products to ensure that "handmade and homemade" don't become a lost art. This event will touch on those things, but with more of a holistic spin as compared to a craft fair.

There is no admission to get into the fair. For more information, call 708-860-7813 or e-mail serendipitousbodywork@yahoo.com.

Jean Dunning writes about kid friendly and positive kid groups, programs and activities. Contact her at storiesbyjd@sbcglobal.net.