By Lauren Underhill
The closest place for gifts is the shops at Prudential and the Copley Place Mall. Shoaib Malik, a sophomore biology major, said his favorite place to shop in Boston is at the Prudential because “There are tons of different stores so there’s something for everyone.”
Middler political science major Brian Cox said he prefers Copley.
“My favorite place to shop in Boston is definitely Copley Place. They have nice stores and a great variety of things.”
The holidays can be rough on the wallet. Stacey Chandler, a sophomore history major, said she is giving her mother an “IOU” this holiday.
If you are on a very tight budget, Old Navy at the Cambridge Side Galleria or in the South Bay Center offers quality items at low prices. This season, scarves, hats and mittens are on sale for $10 each. Other Old Navy gifts include slippers for $14.50 and holiday pajama bottoms for $16.50 each.
The Gap has good prices on winter wear. A hat, scarf and mitten set are on sale for $40 marked down from $53.50. Nearby Gaps are located on Newbury Street, at the Prudential and at the Cambridge Side Galleria.
Yankee Candle Co.’s housewarming jars will make mom’s place smell like the holidays. Scents like Festival of Lights, Home for the Holidays and Jack Frost come in 22 ounce jars for $21, 14.5 ounces for $18 or 3.7 ounces for $10. The featured fragrances of December are Mistletoe or Nutmeg ‘ Cedar, both currently 25 percent off.
Barnes ‘ Noble’s Holiday Sale offers 40 percent off selected items. With winter coming, nothing may sound better to mom than curling up with a book by a warm fire.
Barnes ‘ Noble has a large selection of 2005 calendars. The Mom’s Family Wall Calendar is $12. Other calendars include paintings by Norman Rockwell, Anne Geddes and Monet. Most calendars run between $11 and $15.
If your mother has a sweet tooth, chocolate stores around Boston will satisfy her. Godiva offers special holiday gift packages, running between $30 and $60. If you know exactly what mom loves, you can create your own assorted box for a lesser price. Whether mom likes something nutty, fruity or plain, Godiva has an extensive selection of truffles, biscottis and solid chocolates. Each individual piece costs between $1 and $2. Godiva’s most popular holiday items are the Hanukkah and Christmas Ballotin gift boxes that are full of various chocolates. The 36-piece set is $39 or an 18-piece set is $23. Godiva stores close to campus are at the Copley Place Mall, Cambridge Side Galleria and Faneuil Hall.
The Lindt Chocolate Store offers fine truffles and candies for a lesser price. Bags of truffles are $6 for eight ounces or $10 for 19 ounces. Holiday gift sets cost between $9 and $30. Lindt stores are at 704 Boylston St. or 350 Longwood Ave.
If your mom is a Julia Child, check out Williams-Sonoma for some great cookbooks. Spend time with mom while helping her cook up holiday recipes. Books include the William-Sonoma Christmas Cookbook ($16.95), Christmas Sweets ($15) and The Essential Book of Jewish Festival Cooking ($29.95).
If you want to pamper your mom this holiday, Bath and Body Works has a variety of gift sets “for her” that range from $20 to $60. Or create your own gift with body washes, creams, body splashes and bubble baths. These products range between $8 and $12 a piece. Be sure to check out the new holiday scents, very merry cranberry and winter candy apple.
Those who do have a job and are willing to spend a little more on mom this season can still find nice gifts for reasonable prices. Jill Reeves, a middler biology major, said she is aiming to spend around $50 on her mother this year.
If mom is running low on perfume, get her a refill at Filene’s at the Cambridge Side Galleria or in Downtown Crossing. Fragrance gift sets are a nice choice that offer a variety in products and scents.
Sets of Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Liz Claiborne perfume run around $30 to $60.
Christine Gordon, a sophomore English major, is getting her mother a massage to relieve some of those motherhood stresses. Since moms may not travel to Boston for a massage, it’s a good idea to look up local spas in her area. Spa massages usually cost about $30 for a half hour or $60 for a full hour.
The Prudential Center offers an alternative and more festive way of shopping when typical malls get redundant. The second annual Back Bay Holiday Market will be going on from Nov. 26 to Dec. 24. Get mom a unique gift from one of 35 vending booths set up like a holiday village.
Another alternative shopping location is the NU Bookstore. Sophomore art major Ashley Malloy, a native of Long Island, N.Y., is helping her mom show Northeastern pride with an NU sweatshirt. Some less expensive options are Northeastern key chains, mugs and drinking glasses, all less than $10. For a holiday touch, the bookstore has hand-painted Northeastern ornaments to hang on the tree for $16.
