A Last Minute Gift Guide for the Procrastinator

As residents  rush around this week crossing the last items off their shopping and to-do lists, those "etc." gifts tend to pile up. It can be difficult to know what to give teachers, babysitters or nannies, coworkers, hosts and hostesses, or those people who unexpectedly gave you a gift this year. 

So to help you find those last minute needed gifts, and to help all those procrastinators who tend to wait til the last minute, Patch toured village shops to see what gifts are hot items and to get some much-needed advice.

Pat Turner, the owner of Roomers gift shop on Deer Park Avenue, advises that gifts for children's teachers should be $20 and under, especially for those families with multiple gifts to give.  

"Jewelry is the number one last-minute gift," Turner said, and this year a line called Brighton is a top seller.  A silver apple-shaped charm with red crystals that reads "#1 teacher" retails for $18.  Vera Bradley items, such as pens, eyeglass cases, agendas, and stationary sets ($9 and up) are also popular gifts for teachers, says Turner.

Clothing boutiques are doing brisk business as well.  At Pandemonium, on Deer Park Avenue, owner Jacqueline Di Donato has been  busy attending to a crowded store.  Pandemonium has several options for gifts under $20, including decorative iPhone cases ($10) and dangly sterling silver earrings ($10 or two for $15).  Customers have also been mixing and matching handmade natural Italian soaps from Nesti Dante with a scented Paddywax candle for $15, which the store then wraps into a festive package.

The Studio by Tre-Femmes Accessories, also on Deer Park Avenue, which  has unisex gift options for the eco-conscious or the has-it-all person on your list.  If you don't mind shelling out for a one-of-kind gift, a line of bags and accessories made from recycled newspaper would appeal to your worldly traveling friends.  A large messenger style bag sells for $95, wallets and portfolios for $38 each and a passport holder for $28.

Nail salons and spas are another popular source of last-minute gifts, says Rachel Moon, aesthetician at Yuni Nails on East Main Street.

"Christmas Eve no one is coming in to get manicures or pedicures.  It's all gift certificates," she says.

The salon, which will be open until 5 p.m. on December 24, mostly sells $20 gift certificates, but amounts up to $100 were selling as well.  Recipients can use the certificates on manicures, pedicures, and massages, as well as other spa services.  Moon said husbands commonly purchased gift cards for their wives, but a gift certificate for pampering would be a good "thank-you" gift for a hard-working teacher or employee, as well.