<p>When giving a GPS, also advise student to hide it under dashboard whenever parking overnight, or even briefly - for example, at a mini-mall on quick errand. I’m amazed at how fast these items get swiped. </p>
<p>A college student I know had one snatched from dashboard while paying for gasoline. Car doors locked…but he forgot sunroof was wide open. Right in front of the store doors, some hangin-out preteens just crawled onto roof of his car and away they went with it, all in 2 minutes flat. </p>
<p>GPS on dashboards = theft and car break-in magnet. But a GREAT item to have, IMO.</p>
<p>My son mentioned alpaca socks to me this morning, as in “can you get some alpaca socks for Christmas?” Then one of our employees in the warehouse (where it doesn’t get that warm) mentioned them as well, saying they’re essential to keep his feet warm.</p>
<p>Thus: small present, easily affordable: alpaca socks.</p>
<p>I bought myself alpaca socks from Sierra Trading Post earlier this year. They are so great I bought myself five more pair and then ordered some for gifts. Unfortunately, I had to pay regular retail for the gifts-- [Alpaca</a> Direct - Luxury Alpaca & Pima Cotton Apparel, Yarn, Socks and Gifts - Alpaca Direct](<a href=“http://www.alpacadirect.com/]Alpaca”>http://www.alpacadirect.com/)</p>
<p>I just scored a pair of cute gloves at Macy’s that have little pads on the finger tips so you can keep your gloves on and use your touchscreen phone! They were $5 since I had some coupons! D2 will love them because she won’t have to have cold fingers as she texts and walks across campus. Perfect stocking stuffer!</p>
<p>One of my favorite Christmas memories is when I was a college student and visiting my (now husband) BF’s house over Christmas. His parents had just gotten a membership to Sam’s Club (was it new in 1986? or just new to them?) Anyway, the siblings and I and a BIL each got a big grocery sack full of individually wrapped things - like toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, cough drops, body spray, boxes of candy, razors, etc. that they had bought in bulk (deodorants come three to a package…we each got one!) Opening was a hoot (getting such mundane stuff all dressed up as a present made us laugh) but as starving college kids, we really did NEED all of it too! And one size fits all.</p>
<p>I posted it on another thread, but all the men in my family are getting Shower Shorts this year…I ordered them for son for the dorm at the beg. of the school year, and husband wanted a pair…they both love them! The grandpas will like them too. Better than a loose towel any day! </p>
<p>Love the Shower Shorts! My daughter is a swimmer and when she was younger I used to make her “swim pants”. I used a pajama bottom pattern and two different color towels in her team colors. The kids loved them!</p>
<p>Love all the ideas! Got the smart phone friendly gloves for my DDs’ stockings and the shower shorts for my husband! Keep the great ideas coming-I love not having to think so hard, lol.</p>
<p>An alternative (non-wool) sock that I love is the walking sock made by Thorlo. I have purchased it in black & wear them most of the time. The arch support is nice, as is the padding that has kept me from getting any blisters! It also helps keep your feet nice & toasty. Since all the socks are the same color, it’s not such an issue pairing them. They also wick away moisture and last a very long time. </p>
<p>There are some specials going on, as well as free shipping that makes the cost per pair quite reasonable.</p>
<p>Any place online to order the smart phone friendly gloves for men or women? Any links appreciated…don’t want to spend a fortune, just cause gloves always seem to get lost!</p>
<p>I just got my daughter a pair in black at our local Walmart. I tried them and they work great on my ipad, but not so good on my non-touch screen phone.</p>
<p>I’ve gotten such great ideas on this thread. We’re an Iphone family and I LOVE the glove idea. I also like the gamer desk and the dorm shorts!</p>
<p>If someone is still thinking of a GPS, I want to second the suggestion of getting it at Costco. I just returned my second (or was it the third??) one there today. Each time I paid a little less. When I returned the second one, I didn’t even have one of the cords or the box, or the receipt and they still gave me full price. I love our GPS’s but they don’t seem to be built to last. Returns at Costco are SO easy! We have the Garmin Nuvi 1490T. [Garmin</a> Nuvi 1490T Review - Car GPS (Navigation) - CNET Reviews](<a href=“Garmin Nuvi 1490T review: Garmin Nuvi 1490T - CNET”>Garmin Nuvi 1490T review: Garmin Nuvi 1490T - CNET)</p>
<p>I’ve bought a few pair of noise canceling headphones over the years and always get them at newegg and usually get Sennheisers. I like newegg because they have a great website with lots of choices and you can sort to find just what you want by price, popularity, features, etc. and it has good reviews. The tech guy at my work uses it as his primary shopping place too and he’s a real techy bargain hunter. [Newegg.com</a> - Sennheiser Electronic corp.,headphones noise cancelling](<a href=“Are you a human?”>Are you a human?).</p>
They also wick away moisture and last a very long time. </p>