It’s finally an acceptable time of year to curl up inside with hot chocolate to avoid the cold outdoor weather. Unfortunately, that’s not the entirety of the holiday season, as the impending doom of looking for a gift for that one hard-to-shop-for person is still a prominent task. While every student theoretically would want a better on-campus parking situation as a dream gift, here are some more realistic ones for a Red Dragon that you can give this season.
For the chilly walks up the hill
Now that Halloween has passed, winter is creeping upon Cortland and will soon be striking with near-freezing temperatures consistently. Being prepared for the cold weather is essential, especially when having to walk from class to class. Any sort of quality pair of insulated shoes is a game-changer. Uggs are a popular choice since they’re easy to slip onto your feet for a groggy early morning lecture, a cozy study session at the Memorial Library, or to quickly run errands. The Ugg Tasman Slippers are slippers that come in men and women’s styles featuring a thick band surrounding the ankle, securing them on through nearly any terrain, and a fuzzy sherpa lining to keep warm. They come in mostly neutral colors like brown and beige, with some bolder hues, along with the rest of the shoes on their website.
For long studying days
As a student, sometimes the day seems to go on infinitely, but one thing to help get through a day that’s dragging on is listening to music. Tuning out the rest of the world is a bit easier with a solid set of either earbuds or headphones. And, they can be used anywhere, too – walking to class, spending time in the gym, or rewinding recorded lectures to study. It’s a staple in any students’ life. AirPods are a good choice since they have different options depending on your price range. Or, you can splurge on a pair with more innovative features, like noise cancellation, longer battery life, and wireless charging. There’s also used pairs or older generation ones, since older models still work just as great for a cheaper price.
For when Bistro’s Menu is looking subpar
While the dining halls tend to have an extensive list of options to choose from for dinner, sometimes nothing looks amazing to eat. Luckily, there’s a solution to elevate your standard dorm-room cup of noodles and microwave Mac & cheese cups. I came across this genius invention last year (and can easily say it’s awesome). The Fasta Pasta is a container designed to heat up and cook pasta in a pinch, no matter the shape. Just take a look at the included guide to see the cooking instructions for your pasta shape, measure how much water to add, then place it in the microwave and wait. Using the Fasta Pasta saves cooking time for pasta, as you don’t have wait for the water to heat up and then add the pasta – it takes care of both at once, with an easy straining lid. The portable container also fits in the dorm micro fridges perfectly – excellent for storing leftovers.
For staying warm during game days
It goes without saying that some of SUNY Cortland’s best athletic teams compete in the colder months of the year. Whether you’re watching a puck drop, a kick-off, or a jump ball, there’s always athletic events and games happening on campus. A reliable winter hat is something to wear so you can still represent SUNY Cortland’s Red Dragons during a game, even with a gigantic puffer jacket on. Plus, it can be purchased right from the campus store in Neubig, which has a wide selection of fleece-lined beanies and other hats.
Quick Stocking Stuffer Ideas
For those in need of a small gift idea, there’s a bunch of options out there that work great for a secret Santa, a stocking stuffer, or any other occasion.
- Socks – since they’re constantly being lost in the laundry room.
- Tote bag – for quick grocery store trips.
- Keychain/lanyard – for that one person always losing their keys/ID card.
- Mug – for a warm drink inside when it’s cold outside
- Hand Warmers – for a brutally cold day outside when pockets and gloves still aren’t enough
Of course, all of these are just some rough ideas as to what a student here at SUNY Cortland would want for the holidays. No matter what holiday is being celebrated, though, the best gift of all is quality time with important people.