Holiday Gift Ideas for the College Professor

I am the wife of a college professor. College professors spend a lot of time in their offices. If they don't have any personal items hanging on the walls and elsewhere then they will be in a room with books and nothing else. These are just a few of my recommendations.

A clock that is personalized. CVS has wonderful items that you can personalize. Any one of them makes a great gift. The clock that CVS is showing has a picture on it. The one I gave my husband has his name and degrees. The price is about $30.00.

A cardigan sweater. The temperatures can fluctuate in offices. My husband has always had a nice button down cardigan sweater hanging behind his door. He can wear it in his office or to class. You can find one for about $27.00 at Sears.

A dorm-sized refrigerator. Some professors make it a point to eat lunch in the cafeteria or snack bar. My husband doesn't. He prefers to work while he eats. That meant getting him a small refrigerator so that he can put his lunch and sometimes dinner and snacks in to keep the food fresh. The refrigerator comes in handy if a colleague comes by. The professor can offer him or her cold drink or an apple. They start at $70.00 at Target. (Picture included)

If the refrigerator is beyond your budget buy the professor in your life or family (This is not geared toward students. Students should not buy their professors gifts. ) then get a cooler or an insulated bag to take to school. Our daughter game her dad a Boston Red Sox cooler one year. The New England Patriots would be an appropriate theme! You can find one here The price is about $13.00

When our children were little (even the boy!) they made their dad small needlepoint pictures. You can find what I am talking about here. The cost is under $10.00. (Pictures included)

Some professors like their students to realize that they are real people. That's where frames and collages come in. A framed picture of your family or pet is a wonderful gift. I love making colleges so every few years I update them so anyone who comes in can see his family.

A plant. Buy something easy to take care of like a philodendron or cactus. They can go for weeks without being watered. My husband takes his plant home during the summer but over winter breaks the maintenance person waters it for him. (picture included)

One of my husband's favorite gifts was from this website: http://www.cowboychuck.com/. It is self-explanatory and a lot of fun. The prices range from $15.00 to $40.00. (picture included)