A Very Merry Chatham Gift Guide: 2021
Happy Holidays, ChathamU! Our Pulse@ChathamU Gift Guide is back by popular demand—in case you missed our still-relevant 2020 edition, check it out here. If you’re looking for some fresh, fun, and Chatham-influenced gifts for students, alumni, or loved ones, we’ve got something for everyone. Check out our tried-and-true recommendations that are sure to warm hearts this holiday season and if you’re looking for ideas of where to shop, our Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship (CWE) has also compiled a Holiday Gift Guide featuring a wide range of small businesses offering discounts to CWE members.
Give the Gift of Your Time ⏰
If time is money, then quality time with your loved ones can make for a high-end present. If you’re low on funds this year or just hankering to make new memories with those closest to you, consider creating a one-of-a-kind experience as a gift. You could go the tangible route and create something like a scrapbook, craft, or poem that gives your loved ones something to admire for years to come. You could also plan a day that features some of your dearest’s favorite activities, whether that’s shopping, playing games, baking, or watching movies.
And, if you’re an alum looking to give your time to Chatham students in 2022, check out our wide-range of alumni volunteer opportunities.
Give the Gift of New Skills & Sweet Treats 🧁
Amidst research, internships, and dense academic theory, extra-curricular learning sometimes falls to the wayside. Add work/life balance to the mix and finding time doesn’t exactly get easier. Consider gifting your friends some strictly fun learning opportunities this holiday season. This handy Trader Joes-centric cookbook is a great place to start for budding college cooks. If they’re already a full-fledged foodie, considering gifting them a ticket to one of CRAFT’s unique workshops. And if they’re more into the tasting aspect than anything else—which, who isn’t?—CRAFT has compiled an extensive gift guide featuring seasonal delights from Pittsburgh restaurants and small businesses.
Give the Gift of Cozy Clothing🧣
Pittsburgh winters are not for the faint of heart and bustling through an extra-cold Pennsylvania tends to lose its luster after December. This holiday season, gift your coldest cuddle-bugs some cozy garments that will make leaving the house in February a little more fun and fashionable. Check out the Chatham Bookstore’s online apparel shop for some warm and snuggly purple gear or these trendy winter coat recs from Glamour.
Give the Gift of Charity ❤️
If your loved one loves to give back, make a one-time or recurring donation to their favorite charity. If you’re in need of inspiration, take into account places they might have volunteered or donated themselves. You might also look for a local charity that is helping to support a cause that matters to them. Check out the holiday wish lists of 25 Pittsburgh non-profits compiled by Kidsburgh. Visit Pittsburgh has also gathered a list of ways to give back, including everything from donating toys to shoveling driveways. Ask a friend to forgo exchanging gifts this year and instead devote a day to carrying out kind holiday deeds in your community.
Give the Gift of New Insights 💡
If you love someone that is obsessed with reading, consider gifting them a newsletter, newspaper, or magazine subscription this holiday season. Perhaps they’re constantly working to perfect their craft or learn something new—gift them a subscription to the popular website, Masterclass, which allows patrons to learn from famous experts in a wide range of fields. On the other hand, if they’re already on the verge of turning their side-hustle into a small business, they might be interested in Chatham’s Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship’s extensive programming. Pay attention to the interests and aspirations of those you love to see where you might be able to lend a meaningful, monetary hand.
Give the Gift of a Self-Care Splurge 👑
Self-care may be a concept co-opted by corporate America, but taking time to tend to our needs is still crucial during the holiday season. If you know someone who is always putting themselves on the back burner, gift them something that gives them no choice but to make some time for themselves: a haircut, a massage, or a subscription to a meditation app. Offer to babysit for someone with little kids so that they can have a fun night out or a restorative night in. Ask them what they might prioritize if they had more time for themselves and then work backwards to find a way to help. Pulse@ChathamU has a wide-range of self-care guides; here are a few of our faves for inspiration:
• Using Art to Boost Your Mental Health with Kayla Mento
• Effective Tools for Self-Compassion & Self-Care with Kathleen Spadaro
• 7 Strategies for Avoiding Cabin Fever This Season
Give the Gift that’s Trending 📈
TikTok has fully infiltrated the lexicon and as such, the trends are moving faster than ever. If you’re wondering what gifts are at the top of your favorite TikTok fan’s list, check out these 21 Trendy Tik Tok Gifts curated by Cosmopolitan or fashionable TikTok finds from Refinery29. If their plant obsession knows no bounds, check out this list of highly gift-able plants from Treehugger.
Give the Gift of Chatham Art 🎨
Though the Chatham Holiday Art Market may have passed, you can still gift your loved ones one-of-a-kind creations by Chatham students. Check out student writer, Abigail Kneuss’s guide to student creators who are selling their work this holiday season. Alternately, check out the @chathamarts Instagram, which is always featuring new and unique student productions.
If someone in your life is an avid fan of vintage Chatham, gift them a set of notecards with historic Chatham photos from the Chatham University Archives & Special Collections.
Happy Holidays to the entire Chatham community—wishing you and yours a bright and healthful holiday season!