By KATIE ROYAL
HAMPSHIRE - As soon as Thanksgiving is over, everyone’s thoughts turn immediately to Christmas. Or more specifically, Christmas shopping.
It is well-known that the day after Thanksgiving is the biggest day of the year for Christmas shopping. But what some people might not know is that plenty of their Christmas shopping can be done locally, in Hampshire or Huntley. Not only will you save money on gas and pay less in sales tax than you will in Cook County, but you’ll also be supporting local businesses.
Below is a list of several businesses and gift ideas available in your home towns. It is by no means an exhaustive list, but should get some creative juices flowing. For more ideas, look to your village guide or Chamber of Commerce.
Holiday cards
When it comes to holiday cards, Hallmark tops the list. But this year, you can send out cards and help support the District 300 Foundation for Educational Excellence as well. The festive artwork of several D-300 students graces the fronts of 10 different note cards for sale this holiday season. Each $15 box of cards contains one of each of the 10 different designs. Proceeds benefit the D-300 Foundation’s grant program, in which local educators apply for and are awarded funds to enhance and extend learning opportunities in all D-300 schools.
To see some of the students’ designs, visit www.d300foundation.org. The original artwork will be featured in the main conference room of the D-300 Administration Center, located at 300 Cleveland Avenue in Carpentersville, through January.
Place your order now by calling foundation assistant Linda Keyes at 847-426-1300. Orders are now available for pick-up either at the customer’s school office or at the D-300 Administration Center reception desk during business hours, as specified by the customer when ordering.
For the man...or woman who has everything
When people think of Ace Hardware they immediately think of tools, and almost any man will tell you that tools make great gifts.
Ace associates offer some good gift ideas in different price ranges from $7 to $170. Key ring tools, like Swiss Tech’s, make great stocking stuffers and complement a Swiss knife well, with tools like pliers and wire cutters.
Metric tools make another great gift for the man who has everything. Many men have SAE tools but no metric tools. Ace offers a gear wrench set in both SAE and metric measurements for $33.99.
Cordless drills are a gift that no man can say no to, even if he already has one. There are several to choose from at Ace, ranging in size, brand, weight, battery life, voltage, and of course, cost. Ace offers drills ranging from Black and Decker’s 9.6V version for $35.99 to DeWalt’s heavy duty 18V model for $169.99.
While Hampshire’s Ace offers plenty of tools, they also offer less traditional items that make great gifts, including Yankee Candles, Willow Tree and Jim Shore collectibles, collectible Heartland Valley Village light-up model buildings, Webkinz and plenty of snowmen decorations. Most of these items range in price from $2 to $55, but one could spend up to $313 on a full Willow Tree nativity set.
For more ideas, call Ace Hardware at 847-683-2821 or stop by the store at 129 S. State Street, Hampshire.
Accessories, fashion
For those who like accessories or enjoy a relaxing day at the salon, a visit to Capelli Salon might provide the perfect gift.
Gift certificates are available in all price ranges for salon services, and gift boxed products make the perfect complement to a gift card in a cute, purse-shaped box.
In addition, the Unique Boutique in the front of the salon offers accessory items like handmade jewelry, designer knockoff handbags and T-shirts, sweaters, scarves, and watches. Items range in price from about $10 to $65.
Don’t think that men have no interest in what’s available here either. The sports-themed barber area of the salon holds all sorts of sports memorabilia for sale, much of it autographed.
For more information, call Capelli Salon at 847-683-0000, or stop by the salon at 830 Centennial Drive, Hampshire.
Working out
For athletic or not-so-athletic friends and family, a gym membership may be the perfect gift. At first glance, it sounds inflammatory, even insulting, but think again. As a gift-giver, you are looking out for their health and helping them shed some of those holiday-eating-induced calories. And if you’re the recipient of such a gift, don’t scoff and don’t be insulted. Appreciate how much money they are saving you while also looking out for your health. An even better idea: offer to join a gym together and make it an opportunity to spend healthy, quality time.
Hampshire offers Curves For Women, and a well-equipped fitness center for men and women alike. Both gyms are offering special promotions for the holidays.
At Curves, current members can give friends a free one-month gift certificate to work out there. While that option is only open to current members, anyone can walk in and buy someone a two-month membership for $99 and not have to pay the initial service fee. This promotion is available through the end of 2008 and can be redeemed at any time.
Yet another promotion they are running for women allows them to sign up to be a member and work out until February for the cost of half the initial service fee. This means working out for the next two months for only $74.50, half the original cost of a service fee, and no monthly fees are charged until February.
“The machines are all designed for women and everyone works out on a 30-minute circuit,” said Curves owner Diane Certa. “There is always a fitness coach there to support people and make it fun. It’s a great workout for people who maybe aren’t as experienced. It’s effective but not complicated.”
Call Hampshire’s Curves at 847-683-2544 for details. The Hampshire location is right behind Chick-N-Dip on the corner of State St. and Route 72.
Gift certificates in any amount are available at Hampshire Fitness Center and can be used to pay for the initial fee or monthly fees. For the month of December, owner Carol Brock is offering a first-time special promotion that is sure to save new members a lot of money.
Through December, Brock will waive the $149 initial service fee entirely if you bring in a bag of non-perishable food items for the Burlington-Hampshire food pantry.
“During these rough economic times, don’t forget your health,” she said.
For more information, call 847-683-7040, or stop by the Fitness Center at 102 Park Street, Hampshire.
Man’s best friends
When shopping for gifts for friends and family, don’t forget the family pets and pet-lovers. Country Chic Dog and Cat Grooming and Paw Prints Pet Care has plenty of gift ideas for man’s best friends and those who love them.
Country Chic offers tons of clever pet toys, including fuzzy chew toys in all shapes, ranging from purses and perfume bottles, to diaries and flowers, as well as rubber chickens with personality. These range in price from $3 to $7.
For those who like a well-dressed dog, T-shirts, stoles and cuffs with crystals are available, as well as dog tags with crystals or clever nicknames like “grungy pup.” Clothing is a luxury at $24.99, but smaller accessories are more affordable, starting at $6.
There are also plenty of pet necessities with a twist, including all-natural, human-grade dog treats for $8.50, custom-made pet beds for $25, and lifetime guaranteed leashes and collars. Other fun and useful items include pet cologne, travel water bottles and training bells.
And don’t forget, this is a grooming salon where you can pamper your pets. Besides the traditional bath and haircut, Country Chic owner Jolene Pasta offers pawdicures, aromatherapy massage, warm blueberry facials, and pink highlights for your favorite furry pets.
For the holidays, Country Chic is offering free teethbrushing for all animals who come in for grooming. Also, they are accepting donations in exchange for collar bandanas, with proceeds going to the no-kill animal shelter in Huntley.
For friends and family looking for a good pet-sitter, no gift could be better than a gift certificate for Paw Prints Pet Care services. Gift certificates are available
in any amount and can be used for any services from pet sitting to dog walking, from pooper scooper service to pet taxi service. Also, Paw Prints’ services are available for long or short term contracts and for any kind of pet.
Consider using Juli Gurican’s pet care services while shopping or enjoying the holidays this season.
“There is help out there and your pets don’t have to be alone from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. while you celebrate away from your home,” she said.
Check out a full list of available services online at paw-printspetcare.com or call Gurican at 815-307-2438.
No matter where you go or what you buy for your loved ones this holiday season, keep in mind the spirit of the season. It’s about giving not only gifts, but love and kindness, and enjoying the company of your loved ones. So make sure every gift comes from the heart.
Shopping fundraisers
Support Hampshire High School’s National Honor Society by shopping at Barnes & Noble in West Dundee, IL. In an effort to raise money to buy gifts to go to the less fortunate for Christmas, Hampshire High’s NHS is working together with Barnes & Noble Booksellers by hosting a bookfair at the Barnes & Noble at Spring Hill Mal on Saturday, Nov. 29.
From 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on that day, every customer who mentions Hampshire High School at the register will have a percentage of their sale go toward the NHS fundraiser.
Related events and programs will be held at Barnes & Noble on Nov. 29. These include complimentary gift wrapping by NHS students from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Also, meet the Whip-Pur, the Hampshire High School’s mascot, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
For more information, contact Amy Leonard, National Honor Society Sponsor for Hampshire High School at amy.leonard@D300.org or call at 847-792-3500.
In addition, look for the D-300 Foundation’s table at Barnes & Noble in Spring Hill Mall on Friday, Nov. 28, where shoppers can place and pick-up D-300 student note card orders. This is part of a special event from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., in which all Barnes & Noble purchases at Spring Hill Mall will help benefit the D-300 Foundation. For extra fun, kids and adults can wear their pajamas and slippers for 7 p.m. story-time by D-300 Associate Superintendent Dr. David Scarpino.
