Well, Internet, I am only the barest squeak further along in my Christmas prep than I was on Friday. By which I mean I have finally ordered most of the presents I need to (but not all, oh no, not all), my holiday cards have arrived and the address labels have been printed (but not applied to the envelopes, which means the cards remain unsent), and I have contemplated what to order for Christmas dinner (but have not ordered it). Instead of oh, decorating or wrapping the gift that arrived and must go in the mail immediately, I am now thinking idly about stocking stuffers. It is much more pleasant to give into one’s mindless only shopping fixation rather than to give into panic about how far behind one is.
My husband and I have slightly differing views on stockings. I feel like they are an opportunity for whimsy and fun but one person’s “whimsy” can slide so easily off the cliff into a chasm of “junk.” Anyway, every year I try desperately to temper myself when it comes to stocking stuffers and then the closer we get to Christmas, the more sure I am that I’ve completely underdelivered on gifts and the more I succumb to Stocking Stuffer Syndrome. So: here’s what I would shove in ALL the stockings if I could.
Spa Headband: The sixth grade set are all into skincare, and my daughter has expressly requested one of these holds-your-hair-off-your-face headbands. If it encourages her to cleanse and moisturize, I’m all for it.
Aesthetic Highlighters: Here’s me not really understanding The Current Kid Lingo, but “aesthetic” seems to be one of the highest compliments you can pay a noun? Not sure what Carla would be highlighting with these, but why not.
Fabric Pens: After attending a free embroidery class at our library, Carla has gotten back into clothing arts, like sewing and embroidery. She loves these fabric pens because they are purportedly washable, which means she can decorate and redecorate a shirt as often as she likes.
Harry Potter Miniverse: My niece loves Harry Potter and it seems like all kids love these mini brands balls, so I really want to get this for her.
LaNeige Lip Balm: I love a good lip balm and this pack of three could so easily be distributed among three wonderful people in my life.
Scrapbook Tape: I am sure Carla could come up with endless applications for this roll-on glue.
Fidget Pen: What kid wouldn’t appreciate this fun (and practical!) fidget?
Hot Sauce Travel Packs: I usually end up filling my own stocking, and this is what I’d like to fill it with.
Eye Masks: I would also like to find these in my stocking. Anything and everything with the slightest potential to detract from how old and tired I look.
Silicone Whisks: I am IN NEED of more silicone whisks. We only have one and it’s kind of big and unwieldy but nonetheless I use it all the time.
Cooling Towel: I am not quite sure WHAT to put in my husband’s stocking. Maybe this cooling towel, which I think he’d make use of while he works out?
Chili Crisp: Speaking of my husband, he did mention this collection of chili crisp in passing. Every gift I’ve gotten him is something he specifically asked for, which makes me feel quite dull, but at least I know he’ll appreciate it?
Gilmore Girls Ornament: I would love to get this ornament for my GG-loving friend, but I’m not sure if it’s Gilmoreian enough???
Only Murders in the Building Ornament: Maybe this ornament would be better? Plus, it makes the song spring instantly to mind.
Only Murders Decal: I love this Only Murders in the Building Decal… but I don’t know if my friend is a decal person?
Only Murders Notepad: This is super cute and fun and useful.
Bombas Socks: Here’s a whimsy-free but semi-luxurious option for my husband’s stocking!
Croissant Throw Pillow Crochet Pattern: Some people in our home are opposed to croissant stuffies, so I am toying with getting Carla a croissant crochet pattern. My mom has been teaching her how to crochet, and this little throw pillow is SO CUTE.
Magnetic Shoelaces: This might be too practical a gift, even for a stocking stuffer, but boy would it be practical. My kid pretty much REFUSES to tie her shoes and it drives me bonkers. (Is this a My Kid Thing, or is it one of those Middle Schooler Things, like refusing to wear a coat when it’s 30 degrees outside?)
Swedish Dishcloths: I love my Swedish dishcloths – they are helping me ever-so-slowly wean off of my horrific paper towel habit – and it’s so fun to have them in cute patterns instead of plain solid colors.
Warmies Eye Mask: I think Carla would love this warm-up-able fuzzy eye mask. (I promise it is not invisible.)
Personalized Notepad: My husband got me some personalized stationery earlier this year and I love it. How fun would it be to get personalized notepads for everyone on my list?
Herb Scissors: Not sure how often I would actually USE these, but I still want them.
Zebra Hilighters: Again with the highlighters! But they are fun and the perfect size for a stocking.
Cat Post-It Note Dispenser: Carla asked for this little guy specifically, and how can I not buy it for her? (And one for me as well.)
Clean/Dirty Dishwasher Sign: Our dishwasher is not magnetic, and it’s nearly impossible to tell if the dishes inside it are clean or dirty, so I got a little sign you can hang inside the dishwasher to make it clear what’s going on. I have at least one person on my list who has explicitly requested one of these for her own house.
Emotional Support Pickle: I don’t know exactly why I have the urge to give one of these to every person I know, but the urge is strong.
Magnetic Leather Bookmark: Oh, how I love a good bookmark! No one can have too many bookmarks.
Sparkle Freckles: Is there any reason that my child needs sparkle freckle tattoos? No. But I cannot think of a reason that she does not need them, either.
Farting Pen: Even though this makes me groan, I can think of at least two people in my three-person household who would get a kick out of this. See? I believe in whimsy even at my own expense!
Screaming Christmas Goat: Last but not least, I sent this to a friend who loves goats and it was a HUGE hit. Someone in your life needs this goat.
Speaking as someone who already owns a screaming goat… though not the festive Xmas version…. I whole heartedly agree.
👍
Right?! A screaming goat seems like just the thing for The Current Era.
These are SO GOOD. More! More! More!
Heehee – thanks, Kari.
LOL I have a screaming goat too. I have tried SO HARD to de-junk our stockings and now they each cost a million dollars. Gah.
See, that’s the exact problem! If you don’t fill them with fun junk, then you fill them expensive stuff and / or treats/candy, and both of those — while great in moderation! — also have their downsides.
Well I kind of think I might need to get sparkle freckles for absolutely everyone.
Yessssss! All the sparkle freckles!
Everything seems to be adding up so fast this year. And I do think it’s more expensive for bigger kids. I want things to last, I want to buy things they’ll actually like/need…and it gets pricey.
I LOVE stockings and agree that I want more suggestions. I’m done buying for this year, but I find gift guides like this (where no influencer is trying to ram something down my throat) soothing and fun!
Oh yay! Soothing and fun is an excellent result. 🙂
Those are clever gifts. The farting pen! My grandsons would love this but my daughter might never speak to me again. 🙂 My late mother-in-law went crazy with stockings so I don’t really do much with them. I usually put in small oranges and edible holiday treats like my older daughter’s beloved peppermint bark.
I love edible holiday treats! And I also like to keep the candy to a minimum because it quickly gets out of hand around here.
I do pretty practical stockings…socks are a great idea, and we love Bombas. Often there are new toothbrushes. Sometimes an orange, just because I used to get that or whole walnuts when I was a kid. When my daughter was a kid I would put a bit of chocolate in there, but now she doesn’t eat it so it’s a waste (or waist, because I end up eating it). Coffee pods for the Nespresso are a good idea around here.
I thought of asking for some eye patches for Christmas, but then I bought them myself because Sephora had 20% off. Which makes no sense because if someone else bought them for me they would be 100% off. I do my own stocking too, so maybe I’ll put them there.
I totally understand that math.
Thanks for these lists! I know these take so long to put together and I love getting some fresh gift ideas!
Thanks Colleen! 🙂
I received some of the Laneige lip balm at a favorite things exchange last year and it is really great! And I have mild liners and love them, too.
My cat-loving husband would enjoy that cat post it note holder. Except he does not use post it notes – otherwise I would buy him one!
My boys would love the farting pen. They are very into fart humor!!
Lisa, neither my child nor I use Post It notes. But we WILL, once we have that cat Post It note holder!
Oooh stocking stuffers. This is where I tell you that my husband is great at gifts but not great at stocking stuffers. For the past…decade? More? I have no idea. Anyway for the past x number of years he has put a bottle of wine in my stocking and I do love wine. But no tiny cute whimsical stocking stuffers. IT’S FINE IT’S TOTALLY FINE.
I usually give the guys chocolate mostly in their stockings, plus lottery scratch tickets. This year I am also giving Rob a foil opener for wine bottles (really, seems like it’s a gift for myself) and, weirdly, lip balm. It’s that O’Keeffe’s lip balm and I think he ordered it for himself but it ended up in the package of foil openers, and so I wrapped it. He has yet to say “hey what happened to that lip balm I ordered” so I’m going with it.
Hahahaha – the forgotten necessity is a GREAT stocking stuffer.
My husband is also an excellent gift giver and yet doesn’t really “get” stockings. So I 100% agree: IT’S FINE.
Hey I have those herb scissors! They work great, but the only downside is that they take a bit of effort to clean. Because of that I don’t always use them, but I’m not mad that I got them.
Growing up my mom always filled our stocking with an orange, chocolate, nuts, and then one or two little things like you have on the list. Stockings were always a fun “extra” thing.
It took my husband literally DECADES to notice that I never had a stocking on Christmas morning. Now, he does buy stocking stuffers for me; usually a baffling array of things, but still.
I’m currently in stocking stuffer mode over here – and holy moly! I swear some of the things I’m buying cost more than the actual gifts did.
The GG ornament would be too subtle for me. We’ve been watching that show for years (for the first time) and I don’t get the reference. Of course, we haven’t finished so maybe that’s why.
I find all the MITB merch tempting, though.
ONCE AGAIN, my secret santa recipient will be getting the screaming Christmas goat! Oooh, I wonder who it could be? Does she read this blog? : )
I’m always desperate for stocking stuffers- it’s especially impossible for my 22 year old son who doesn’t like candy (WHAT.) There are a couple things here he would like.
I’ve had that post-it note dispenser for years and absolutely love it! You definitely both need it!