With two days until Christmas, there’s still time to find a gift that doesn’t seemed rushed.

Sassafras and Mid-South Lumber in Vicksburg offer gifts that are quality and can come in handy in case of an emergency.

“One thing I always sell last minute is gift certificates,” Nancy Bullard of Sassafras said. “I used to feel gift certificates were impersonal but when I see how much people enjoy shopping for themselves, I had a different attitude about that.”

Bullard said people tend to get gift certificates, not because they decide what to get someone, but so they can embark on their own personal shopping spree. Customers with gift certificates tend to get items that have been put on sale or jewelry.

Since Sassafras has a specialty in bridal registry and Christmas is a big season for engagements, men can find great gifts for their fiancée or newlywed.

“A lot of girls will get engagement rings for Christmas,” Bullard said. “[Men] will come in and see and make an addition to something that’s already on a bridal registry, like a pottery pattern or a piece of serveware. Or they’ll just know that their wife or fiancée likes to shop here and get something that catches their eye.”

Newborns also get their first taste of the magical holiday. Parents can pick up pewter baby cups and rattlers from Salisbury Pewter, which can be kept as family heirlooms as well. Sassafras also carries Wedgwood Peter Rabbit and Royal Dalton bunnykins, which are children’s dinnerware patterns.

Women can find bar books like “1,001 Whiskies You Must Taste Before You Die,” barware such as ice buckets for champagne, and steak knives for the father, brother, uncle of significant other in their life.

While hardware stores might not be the initial place to buy a Christmas present, it’s filled with hidden treasures for everyone to enjoy. Pocketknives, small power tools and circular saws are just an example of some useful gift items to complement a man’s garage or tool belt.

“We sell a lot of battery operated drills,” “Women buy them and give them to their husbands, then they want their husband to use them to put up drapes. I think they have a two-fold purpose in mind,” said James Burnett, owner of Mid-South Lumber with a laugh.

Another gift that could come in handy for any power outage or outdoorsmen is a mobile power outlet.

“It’s actually an inverter where you can plug your radio or TV in your house off your car battery,” Burnett said. “It would make a great one for a hunter or fisherman takes his car into the woods but doesn’t have a portable radio. You can charge your cellphone off of it.”

Mid-South Lumber and Sassafras will be open on Christmas Eve until Noon and 2 p.m. respectively.