I mentioned yesterday that I have only the vaguest of ideas for holidays gifts for anyone this year. What better way to solidify those plans than by doing a little online shopping? Well, or at least online putting-into-my-cart-ing.
All images in this post are from amazon.com, except for the 3Doodler Candy, which is from Target.com. Links to amazon products are affiliate links.
I tried to find a boba Jellycat and failed, but I did come across this bagel with shmear, which is darling. I don’t get the Jellycat craze, and certainly don’t understand why they are so expensive, but they are very soft and very cute.
She has been wanting a little Polaroid camera for a long time. My biggest objection is buying film once she goes through what it comes with… but maybe that’s something she can spend her allowance on?
In terms of vintage/retro gadgets that are back in style, I think she would get a lot of use out of this MP3 player.
I’m pretty sure this flip book kit was in the running for last Christmas. It didn’t make the cut, but I think it’s SO cool.
Carla and her cousin have gotten really into collecting Pokémon cards, and they require special storage. It’s amazing how quickly one can fill up a binder with these cards. Carla is in need of a new binder, like this one. Probably I would pair it with a bunch of Pokémon cards; apparently the Dollar Store is the best place to get those.
Speaking of Pokémon, Carla spotted this Pikachu in a store somewhere (Target?) and asked me to put it on her Christmas list. She is a sucker for an animatronic anything.
Ah, yes, it was Target. She spotted this 3D candy pen while we were there and wants that, too.
Every now and again, Carla dips into a bit of a witchy vibe. I think she would love these oracle cards.
Carla continues to love miniatures, and building things; this build-it-yourself greenhouse is the exact intersection of those two loves.
This feels like a good start for brainstorming. Are any of these items on your list for the tweens in your life? What is the Hot Gift among the tweens you know?
It’s Friday, my house is a mess, there are wrapping paper scraps literally everywhere (LEO), I have overcommitted to Fun Things that currently feel less like fun and more like stress, so let’s get into some bullets.
* In addition to overcommitting to Fun Things, Past Me also apparently set up eight thousand appointments for the weeks leading up to Christmas. Last week was the dentist which led to yesterday’s repeat visit so I could get a filling. After several teeth extractions as a child, and a lifelong issue with getting properly numb from anesthetic, I get severe anxiety about going to the dentist. Yesterday was no exception. I hadn’t had a filling in decades, and all I could think about was getting those huge, painful shots in my mouth. Now that I am a grownup, I understand that it’s okay to TELL THE DENTIST a) that I am anxious, b) I have trouble getting numb, and c) WHEN I AM IN PAIN. Either dental practices have dramatically improved since I was a kid, or my childhood dentist was not very good (or some combination of the two), but my filling experience was as good as could be. The shots hurt, but they weren’t as unbearable as I remember, and it took the dentist maybe ten minutes to remove the cavity. The rest of my time in the chair was with the Filling Specialist. The worst part about the experience (outside of the anticipatory anxiety) was the music. They turned on some instrumental Christmas music which turned out to be an epic rendition of “Jingle Bells” that lasted the entire forty-five minutes I was in the chair. That is too much “Jingle Bells.” Way, way too much.
* Most of my holiday gift-buying is complete; my husband and I have a date this weekend to go shopping in an actual physical mall to find the final couple of items on our list. So now I am turning my attention to the monetary gifts we give out every year: sports coaches, tutors, special teachers, mail person, trash collection, hair stylist, housecleaner. But I am – as usual – dithering about amounts. The mail person and trash collectors are easy, because I just give them gift cards in the $10-$20 range. Others feel less simple. Usually, like for the hair stylist or the housecleaner, I give what amounts to double their normal fee. But this year, my daughter started seeing my hair stylist, too, so I suppose I should combine our typical appointment costs and give that? Also, for the first time ever, my hair stylist has had the same assistant working with her for the last three or four times I’ve gotten my hair cut and colored. Do I give the assistant a separate gift, or does my hair stylist give her a portion of whatever she gets? And, if the latter, do I need to bump up the gift a bit to account for whatever she distributes to others? The other thing that’s stumping me is people whose normal fees are weird numbers. Like if your normal fee is $35, then I would give you a $35 gift. But $35 seems like a weird amount for a gift, doesn’t it? Should I just round up to $50? But that’s a BIG roundup. If your normal fee is $90, somehow $100 seems like a much nicer gift than simply doing an extra $90. I am overthinking this, right? But what would you do?
* By the way, if you have a Trader Joe’s near you, mine has an assortment of cute holiday cards for ninety-nine cents apiece (a STEAL for any card, let alone a cute one). I bought a big handful of these cards to accompany the money gifts.
* Should I get bangs? This feels like a non-sequitur, but I was just thinking about my hair stylist and how last time I visited her, we briefly discussed Forehead Minimization Tactics, and she said she thinks I would look good with bangs. I haven’t had bangs since elementary school. I don’t think I could DEAL with bangs, honestly. But also, more and more lately, I have been staring at the immense freckled and beginning to crepe expanse of my forehead with despair.
* Speaking of despair, I have a Fancy Event coming up in January and I need Fancy Clothes to match. I’ve been looking at dresses for months now, refusing to try anything on, hoping that I would somehow magically shrink to fit one of the many many beautiful dresses I already own and have kept lo these many years. And now the time has come when I have to face reality and buy a new dress. Nordstrom has a bunch of dresses I’ve had in my digital shopping cart for awhile. I really like this one; it’s fancy, the fit-and-flare style typically looks okay on me, it’s not too short. I don’t love the straps, though; I feel as though my bare shoulder days are behind me. Also, it’s more than I’d like to spend on a dress I may wear ONCE. But then again, maybe if I buy a higher quality dress, it will fit me better? This one is pretty, and has sleeves. I like the color, the price is decent. It also looks itchy, and maybe too short. I love the look of this one – I swoon for a navy dress – and it also has sleeves. And it’s VERY on sale. But is the neckline too restrictive? Does it read too youthful for a middle-aged mom? I like the look of this one, and it looks elegant and very comfortable. The pattern is not exactly my typical style, and I’m worried it’s slightly too casual for an event with cocktail attire. Which one would you suggest I try? I’m toying with buying all of them, trying them on, and returning three. I’ve done that before, but it always makes me nervous.
* This is kind of a dumb, low-stakes question, but what is the protocol for food procurement when you’re meeting someone? I met a friend at a bakery the other day. I wasn’t sure when she would arrive, and she had declined my offer to get her something, so I ordered my little pastry and drink and was standing in line to pay when she got there. But then it felt awkward, like I hadn’t waited for her? Standing in the bakery without buying anything would have felt awkward, too, though. I can also imagine grabbing a table, waiting for her, then going to place our orders together, and feeling awkward about THAT. (There is something unbearable to me about paying for something for myself and NOT for the other person.) Clearly I will just feel awkward about anything and everything.
* Here’s another dumb thing I am feeling awkward about. As I mentioned, my husband and I are going to The Mall this weekend. I rarely go to malls, but I realized we will be in the proximity of several stores that have something I want very badly: a cake stand with a dome. The thing is, I put this on my Christmas wish list that my husband sends around to all his family members, so there is a chance I might be getting one for Christmas. I don’t think anyone (except perhaps one person) who takes part in this gift-list-sharing process really feels like the items are Must Buys, they are more like suggestions. Plus, we haven’t received any gifts addressed to me at all. So it’s a small chance, but it’s still a chance. But… should I take advantage of being in The Mall and just buy myself a cake stand??? This one is kind of exactly what I’d envisioned, and it’s on sale. Or this one is so simple and elegant. I like this one, too, with the marble base. I should just wait until after Christmas, right? I should just wait.
* Leo is loving Christmas. Or hating it, it’s kind of difficult to distinguish between the two. I made the mistake of bragging to Elisabeth recently that I make my own bows out of wrapping paper. I do do that; it’s fun and the results are cute, but they take FOREVER to make. And, of course, Leo thinks they are for his personal entertainment. Or he takes them as a threat to the safety of his home and targets them for immediate destruction. Hard to say. Pride goeth before the fall and all that, I guess.
All right, that’s all I’ve got this morning. I have a Fun Thing today, plus cleaning, plus at some point I still need to address and mail our holiday cards.
We are at the point of the holiday shopping season where websites are starting to post little warnings about what will arrive in time for Christmas. We are still FIFTEEN DAYS OUT from Christmas, people. And yet it seems we need to order things NOW or they may not get here. It’s… stressing me out. Yes, even though I already have 95% of the gifts I plan to buy.
My Stocking Stuffer Syndrome (that panicky feeling that I have not quite fulfilled the Christmas Is Magical requirements, and the only way to do so is to buy more things) is in full swing. HOWEVER. Instead of buying more things, I am admiring all the things I COULD buy, maybe putting some things in digital carts, maybe earmarking some things for next year. Maybe thinking, “Oh, I really do want to buy that for so-and-so!” If you are similarly reaching for One Last Thing to give, maybe you’ll find something here.
A note on my choices: I know some people think of stockings as the place for Small Gifts, even if that means spendy things like ear buds or jewelry. But I usually like to spend about $5-$10 on stocking stuffers. Of course, inflation, so I’ve tried to keep things to a cap of about $25. There are exceptions, of course, but I don’t want to blow my entire gift budget on stocking stuffers so I do try to keep it in check.
All images below from the accompanying sites linked to in the descriptions. Some of the gift ideas below use affiliate links, which means I get a few cents if you click on a link and buy that product.
All Sorts of Stocking Stuffer Options
My favorite mascara (20% off today!): I am a new convert to this mascara, even though it is a lot more than what I like to spend on mascara. It makes my lashes look great AND it comes off very easily.
Jojoba carrier oil: This is kind of a niche thing, but my husband has gotten really into fragrances and I wanted to get him a fragrance-related stocking stuffer, so I got him a set of essential oil / perfume rollersand some carrier oil so he can make his own perfume rollers to travel with or give to friends.
Warheads: Carla is very into everything sour, as was I when I was her age, and these will please her very much.
Hair tinsel: A couple of friends’ kids have hair tinsel, and it’s adorable and fun and I think my kid would like it a lot.
Morf fidget worm: Carla already has this weird shape-shifting fidget toy, but she loves it and I think anyone who has busy hands would really enjoy fiddling with it.
Hair wax stick: I keep seeing this kind of thing on Instagram reels about sleek up-do hairstyles and I want some and think Carla would enjoy some as well.
Nail strengthening cream: My nails get extra brittle during the winter months and I am all about some nice-smelling cream to make them a little tougher.
Press on nails (no glue): Carla is OBSESSED with fake nails, much to my chagrin. But Christmas stocking are for filling with delight and I know these would delight her.
Fidget sticks: These look fun and I bet my child and cat would like playing with them.
Kitsch scrunchies: Carla is very into her hair these days, and these scrunchies are cute and have a retro appeal.
Undereye pods: I am of course Very Interested in all the red light therapy devices that are all the rage. This seems like a fun and fairly inexpensive way to try it out.
Fidget toy: This fidget toy was on Carla’s list earlier this year, but we got the Morf fidget worm instead; so why not surprise her with this one now?
Jewelry case keychain: My kiddo has one of these that she attaches to her backpack, and she keeps her earrings and necklaces in it during sports practice. It is so practical and has the added bonus of being cute!
Scented Water Wow: Gone are the days when Carla would have loved this mess-free coloring book, but I do have a neighbor whose kids are at the perfect age.
Star spoke clips: Speaking of neighbors, one of our neighbor children just learned how to ride a bike, and Carla immediately wanted to get her some of these spoke clips. I won’t be putting them in her stocking (I am not Santa and refrain from climbing around people’s chimneys), but they would make a great stocking stuffer.
Headlamp: I wonder if this fun headlamp would make me feel more comfortable with Carla out past the late late hour of four o’clock these days? Maybe not, but it might make her feel like an explorer which is a good enough reason to put it in a stocking.
Hydrating skincare (20% through 12/10): This is Carla’s favorite brand of skincare stuff, and it’s winter and everyone’s skin is scaly so it’s time to restock.
Combination lock Air Tag holder: I was searching for a stocking stuffer for someone who likes to travel but is also constantly worried about thieves, and this lockable Air Tag holder came to my attention. It would be perfect for a bicycle or a piece of luggage or a stroller or all sorts of other things.
Reusable lint remover: Speaking of things for dealing with the excessive amount of pet hair I have on my person at all times, this would be great for tucking into a purse or backpack or glove compartment.
LED workshop lights: It’s usually easy to find stocking stuffers for my kid or myself, but finding things that are inexpensive and useful and fun for my Dad is next to impossible. I am not sure these would fit in a stocking, but the price is close enough, and they would definitely be useful!
Candy cane crunch bar: I discovered this chocolate company over the summer and it is FABULOUS. This sounds both festive and tasty!
Coffee paste: Not being a coffee drinker, I can’t tell if this would be actually good… but I think it would be so fun for a coffee fan who also likes to travel or camp.
Pizza cutter wheel: One of the things my parents requested for Christmas was some tools for pizza making, so we are absolutely getting them a pizza slicer.
Keto pizza crust mix: This pizza crust would be perfect for the low-carb pizza lover. I am kind of curious to see how it tastes!
Capybara stress balls: I have to admit that I don’t really get the whole obsession with capybara – they are giant rodents, folks – but my kid thinks they are adorable, so these capybara stress balls caught my eye.
Carbide scribe: My dad does a lot of stained glass projects and this would be great for signing them.
Eye gels: This is one of those items that I always gravitate toward. The search for the product that will transform my undereyes is endless.
Milk frother: As part of my ongoing effort to get Carla to consume more protein and calcium, I am always happy to make her a big mug of hot chocolate (with high protein milk). She would enjoy this milk frother to give her cocoa a little body.
Fancy hot chocolate mix: We’re Swiss Miss people, but sometimes it’s fun to switch things up with a fancy cocoa mix.
Bombas dog socks: I love Bombas socks and I am very pleased by the little pups featured on these ones. Dogs for your dogs, if you will.
Rachel’s English trifle tea towel: “It tastes like feet!” is one of my all-time favorite lines from Friends. It would be so fun to have this annual opportunity to say it in my best Ross Geller voice.
Fidget ring: I don’t necessarily get the appeal of fidget toys, but as a person who is constantly fiddling with her wedding rings, I do understand why a fidget ring would be tempting.
No-tie shoelaces: I feel like shoelaces are a great option for a stocking, and I like the idea of this no-tie version.
Seed lollipop: I’m always looking for fun gardening related gifts, and I love the idea of these seed “lollipops” that can be planted. These culinary lollipops have a selection of seeds, like basil, tomato, and fennel for pizza night.
Pollinator kit: Or, for the budding gardener, these pollinator kits come with seeds and a little craft project!
Tree kit: I also LOVE this “grow your own Christmas tree” kit – and every kit purchased comes with a matching tree donation.
Huckleberry preserves: I love huckleberries, and I love giving (and getting) jam in my stocking.
Dorothy calendar: Dorothy Zbornak of Golden Girls fame is herself a gift and I love this calendar of her many faces. I possess many of these same expressions, even if I can’t deploy them with quite as much vigor.
Mechanic hourly rate sign: My dad isn’t technically a mechanic, even though he is our family’s resident car guy, but this sign cracks me up anyway.
Satin bonnet: I love the idea of a satin pillow, but I think I like the idea of a satin bonnet even more!
Tote bag: Listen, I do not need another tote bag, but I CANNOT QUIT THEM. They are so useful and there are so many fun options.
Lip balm minis: This is a lot more than I like to spend on a stocking stuffer, but a) it can split up among several stockings and b) I have it on good authority that this is the It Balm among the middle school set.
Custom Owala water bottle nametag: We are getting Carla an Owala for Christmas, and we’re getting it engraved with her name, but this water bottle nametag would be an excellent alternative.
Spice and cookie set: The names of these spice mixes alone make me want to buy them, not to mention the fact that I can use them to make cookies.
Moisturizing gloves: This was on my sister-in-law’s wish list, and this set has enough pairs of gloves to spread around among all the women whose stockings I need to fill.
Croissant chocolate bar: I have never heard of a chocolate bar that has pieces of croissant in it, but I’m really glad I have now.
Make It Mini diner set: My kid has really kind of outgrown toys by this point (sob!), but she still loves the Miniverse blind balls. How can I not get her one??
Capybara pens: As I mentioned earlier, capybara are having a moment, and pens always come in handy.
Cateye stamp: Carla would LOVE THIS. So would I, if I had anywhere requiring Fancy Makeup.
Sour Swedish candy mix: Speaking of things Carla would love – actually, our whole family would love this mix. (I didn’t get the memo, but apparently Swedish candy is all the rage these days?)
Zodiac nail stickers: I got such a wave of nostalgia when I came across these! I used to love nail stickers, but haven’t tried them for… thirty years, I bet. Maybe more.
Temporary tattoos: I also kind of love these holiday-themed temporary tattoos. They are so simple, I kind of want to try them on myself?
Uno No Mercy: This was on Carla’s wish list and I like the idea of an upgraded version of a classic game.
Bacon taster: I love to put sweet treats in people’s stockings, but some of my family members prefer savory things. I am totally intrigued by this bacon taster, which seems to be a single strip of bacon in a package that supposedly tastes just like bacon at breakfast. I don’t know how that’s possible but I feel the need to find out.
Spicy peanuts: Peanuts make another great non-sweet treat, and this brand has the added benefit of being sugar free.
Spicy buffalo peanuts: These spicy peanuts also sound yummy! And they are “artisan” which maybe makes them feel slightly more gift-worthy??? (Why yes, I do overthink everything.)
Light-up door hanger: I think my kid would LOVE to have a way to leave us messages about when and how to contact her once she’s holed up in her room.
Cocofloss refillable mint floss: Practical gifts like oral hygiene items most definitely belong in a stocking, especially when they are a little more fun / fancier than the norm. I am also intrigued by the idea that this floss is refillable.
Friends notepad: Super nostalgic. I love the quote at the top and I want to get this for my Friends-loving bestie very much.
Holiday spice tea: I love tea, but I’m always a little wary of trying a NEW tea, so it would be fun to get a sampler size that allows for tasting without a big commitment.
Heatless hair curler: I swear I asked for and received something similar to this a few years ago, but this is a much better price… and I wonder if Carla would use it?
Hair wax: I’m pretty sure this list already contains a hair wax, but I like the name of this one and I have no idea which brand is better, so I’m including this one, too.
Book of foreign swear words: I feel like this would be a delightful stocking stuffer for the right kind of person.
Odd-size measuring spoons: I have wanted a set of these for SO long – how nice would it be to scoop out exactly two teaspoons in one go?! While we’re at it, I love that King Arthur also sells a “spare measuring spoons” set. PERFECT stocking stuffer.
Sticker by number book: I’m not a HUGE fan of giving Christmas stuff for Christmas, but then again it can be nice to have a Christmassy craft or project to do on Christmas Day, in that lull between opening gifts and eating dinner.
Mini jigsaw puzzle: This 100-piece puzzle is in the same vein: something Christmassy but small enough to complete on Christmas Day.
Sandwich staples: My husband LOVES British food and I think he would be excited to try two of the three sandwich accoutrements in this little gift set. The mustard would be mine, all mine.
Champagne stopper: Speaking of things that would be all mine, I am really the only person in my household who enjoys a glass of bubbly. Usually Kirkland’s finest prosecco, if we’re being honest – you can’t go wrong with $9 prosecco. But I don’t drink an entire bottle in one go and my method of putting a bit of aluminum foil on the bottle while it waits for me in the fridge is… not great. So a specific Champagne stopper would be very useful, is what I’m saying! Is it weird to stop up $9 wine with an $18 stopper? Don’t know, don’t care.
Cheese socks: There’s nothing quite so meta as stuffing stockings in a stocking, but these cheese socks are kind of irresistible.
Cheese socks seems like a good note to end on, so I’ll stop there. Hopefully all this fake shopping has resolved my stocking stuffer syndrome symptoms, and yours, too, if you suffer similarly.
What are your favorite things to give / receive in stockings? Did you get an orange in your stocking every Christmas? I’m pretty sure I did, and, well, I haven’t carried on that tradition with my own family. Probably because I don’t understand its origin. If you do, please enlighten me.
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