SHOP TALK : Those Gifts From the Heart Are Best Ones for Teachers : Books, stamps, candy and soaps and lotions top the list of presents that educators need and appreciate.
Just a few more days of school before Christmas vacation begins, and parents can expect to be hearing, “Mom, I’ve got to get my teacher a present!” Hmmm, this is a tricky gift to buy. Extravagant gifts are definitely uncalled-for; a gift from the heart is in order.
Teachers give to our children all year, so a child’s desire to give something back should not be ignored. We talked to a couple of teacher friends and took a look around The Oaks mall to get some A+ ideas.
Books for the classroom were at the top of the list. With all the local bookstores offering gift certificates, this is one order that’s easy to fill. Better yet, your child’s favorite book personally inscribed makes a great addition to the classroom library. Paperbacks start at just a few dollars.
Stamps make a great gift for a teacher, and the The Stamp Palace has a great selection of adorable rubber stamps with an entire section devoted to the classroom. A lot of teachers collect these stamps because kids love getting their schoolwork stamped. (It’s so official!)
The stamps save your teacher hours of time, and wear and tear on the fingertips. The stamps bare all sorts of messages, like “Super Job” or “Parents Signature Required” and are decorated with everything from dinosaurs to teddy bears. Stamps start at $3.99 and don’t go up much higher.
Soaps and lotions seem to top the list of gifts that kids like to buy teachers. At Crabtree and Evelyn, many of the containers are so pretty they don’t even need wrapping. Foodstuffs include tins of English biscuits, jars of chutney, jam, and lemon curd, as well as beautiful bottles of exotic vinegars. The bath section contains myriad soaps, lotions and potions to make your teacher feel pampered.
Candy is always gratefully received. As usual, See’s Candy has hundreds of gift boxes, small and large. A holiday is just not a holiday without indulging in some great chocolate.
There’s a Calendar Stand at the west end of the mall where good teacher picks might include a Sierra Club Wildlife Calendar or Greenpeace’s Whales and Dolphins. Calendars range in price from $10.95 to $14.95. Stay away from the Fabio calendar unless your teacher has a really special sense of humor.
Most teachers indulge in a hot drink in the classroom, after all, they are up early. Many coffee stores offer gift certificates or beans by the pound. At Gloria Jean’s Coffee Bean, there is a wide selection of exotic coffees and teas to perk up a morning spent with 30 children. The chocolate flavors alone include Swiss, cherry raspberry, mint, mousse, and macadamia nut. A quarter pound of coffee starts at $2.39. Check out the commuter mugs. If you let your kids in on the selection process, the teacher will surely feel appreciated.
ARRAY CLOSING
We were surprised to see a favorite store is going out of business at The Oaks mall. Array is closing down and everything in the store is 50% off. Array has a great selection of well-priced clothes in the Euro-fashion-forward direction.
The sale has been on for a couple of weeks so we suggest you head on over immediately. Everything is exchangeable only until the first of the year, so presents can be bought. You’ll be a hero to your loved one if you get one of those black leather jackets for the marked-down price of $100.
Also, check out the suede backpacks (were $88, now $44). And the line of separates is wonderful.
There were lots of trendy party clothes like crushed velvet and lace dresses. We’re thinking about one of those blue suede fringed hippie jackets for a teeny-bopper we know. ($195 to $97.50)
There are lots of practical clothes here, too. A women’s navy wool suit jacket originally priced at $92 is now $46. There are wide leg trousers to match.
Gentlemen, do not feel left out. There are flannel shirts, sweats, jeans, khakis and belts. All half off. There are neat retro rayon shirts and beautiful sweaters. Flannel boxer shorts and a plaid denim logger jacket will be a hit with the X generation.
Julie Sawyer, an experienced shopper, writes the Shop Talk column regularly in Ventura Life. Want to know where to find the best stuff at the best price? Write to her at 5200 Valentine Road, Suite 140, Ventura, 93003 or send faxes to 658-5576.
