Best stocking stuffers to give and receive... - YouLookFab Forum

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Best stocking stuffers to give and receive...

gryffin

Veteran

So here I am on the computer, yes, you guessed it shopping. I am fine on the big gifts but those pesky little stocking stuffers have me stymied this year. My favorite stocking stuffers to both give and receive are photographs in really nice frames. Anyone care to share their favorite stocking stuffers to give (esp kids, spouse/so, friends, family) and receive?

PS wishing that you all find (whether you celebrate the holiday or not) the joy of family, friends, health, happiness, prosperity and peace in your stockings this year!!

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41 replies

Latest reply was from minimalist

MsMary

Veteran

One thing I do for my family that everybody loves is make photo wall calendars at http://www.walgreens.com. You can personalize them with your own photos and even include birthdays, anniversaries, and so on. I've done vacation themes, or baby pictures, and this year the theme is "The Marine in Japan." They're fun to do and Walgreens almost always has really good discounts.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Body Shop body butters are my favourite - I like the Honey and the Morangia one, but I guess not everyone likes scented stuff.

iPhone chargers are also very useful!!

Some of the ones I am giving this year:

iPad stylus (my mom)
fun flavoured dental floss (my sister)
ear muffs (my dad)
fun socks (my sister)
the Seven Year Pen (a friend)
the nice lip balm I like (myself)
more ear muffs (my sister)
and yet more ear muffs (a friend)

Ear muffs were on everyone's list this year!

gryffin

Veteran

MaryK - that's brilliant!! Great gift!! Thanks so much for the link!
Lyn - what great ideas. Useful, fun and original. Will check them out. Again, great ideas. Many thanks!

deb

Veteran

All of the kids (adult and little) get battery powered toothbrushes each year. The adult boys get Home Depot gift cards, adult girls get makeup, and the little ones get small cars and stuffed animals. The hubster is getting a personalized sign for his garage/workshop. Oh, and chapstick, all around.

Anonymous

I like the Philosophy 3-in-1 shower/bubble bath gels. Lots of fun scents.

gryffin

Veteran

Deb - I never thought of battery powered toothbrushes, great idea!! HD gift cards -power tools very dangerous in my family!! May have to modify but I am sure your guys are in heaven!!
Alicat - a great and luxurious idea! Thanks!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I've never had a stocking or stuffed one. Does that sound odd to you?

Classically Casual

Veteran

Angie, did Santa come down the chimney & leave the big presents under the tree, and little gifts for each person in a stocking for each person hanging from the fireplace mantel?

JulieinMI

For guys - boxers, books, Body Shoppe men's body wash, candy, socks
For those of you who buy for chapstick for girls - my nieces like the EOS lip balm spheres

DonnaF

Veteran

Trader Joe's Peppermint Jo-Jos -- tdf. Got DD a cheap merino sweater at Uniqlo, so a sweater comb is going in her stocking!

MsMary

Veteran

If you have a Trader Joe's, just go there and you will see tons of ideas. I was there today and in addition to all kinds of delicious things to eat and drink, they had a lot of gifty bathy kinds of things.

Gigi

Veteran

Angie, you're missing out! Do you know what we're talking about but just haven't done it?

We haven't done stockings for years. But I would probably fill one with small body care items, nail polish, chocolates, cute magnets, cute stationery items, cool markers/pens, etc. Mom and Dad (whoops, I mean Santa) also used to put a couple of scratch-off lottery tickets in our stockings too. That was fun!

Lisa

Veteran

I always go for practical stocking stuffers as gifts: 3-pk K-cups and a 2 pk of Milano cookies (Target carries both of these), a pack of pens, a candy bar, a scent for the car, lip gloss, and razor blade refills.

amiable

Veteran

For kids, I often put school supplies like scissors, tape and markers in their stockings. The ones from the beginning of the school year are generally gone or lost by now, so the refresher is welcome (and cheap - since I just buy lots of extras at back-to-school time)

Anonymous

I like to get special snacks for stockings. Wrapped biscotti and fun teas for adults. Other things that I picked up for stockings this year are fingerless gloves, sweater shavers from Bed Bath and Beyond, heat resistant neon rubber spatula, and knit headbands that keep the ears warm. Dollar coins are fun. Once I received a much needed tire pressure gauge.

cuffcat

Always a little chocolate!

gryffin

Veteran

Angie - you poor girl!! Do you at least follow Santa on Norad - it's not as cute as it used to be when live officers recorded commentary but it's still cute? We are not even christian we have always had stocking and Santa!! My mom used to decorate the stockings with tinsel, candy canes, and small wrapped gifts etc and they were just magical. It didn't even matter what was in there, they just looked so beautiful and wonderous in the morning. Definitely a tradition worth considering?!
CC -which christmas special - was it The Santa Claus movie that the chimney just appeared it the house or apt did not have one? Not that gifts aren't really nice, but don't you think stockings are special?
JulieinMI -great ideas! Boxers are a good one and always needed. I have never checked out the men's stuff at BBW, also a great idea!!
DonnaF & MaryK - we do have a Trader Joe's but I didn't think to check there. I was supposed to shop today but I didn't count on Mama Nature dumping a ton of snow on me. So I am doing the internet frenzy shop. Hope fully it will let up and I can get out to TJ to check it out. Thanks for the great idea!!
Gigi - thanks for all the great suggestions!! I totally forgot about lottery tickets and my guys and MIL love them. That's a totally fab idea!! Many thanks.
Lisa - that's a great idea. Practical and useful is good. I don't like to give things just to give something. You're right sometimes things don't need to be glamorous to be really appreciated!
Amiable - that is an excellent idea on school supplies. I always have to refuel my sons supplies in January. If I make a preemptive strike then they count as a gift. Brilliant!!

gryffin

Veteran

Joy - those are all super ideas!! I didn't think of teas or coffees. I love the tire pressure gauge!! Where is that demmed thing when you need it!! Great ideas!!
cuffcat - we are one this. Is there life without chocolate? I mean (please no offense to anyone) but who picks the fruit dessert over the chocolate? Obviously not me!! Definitely chocolate will make its way into those stockings!!

Susie

Veteran

My daughters are in their 20"s. They like the practical stuff- face wash, moisturizer, makeup remover cloths, lip balm, razors, make up, nail polish, hair stuff, etc. And they still love candy! But I was told no more post it notes; they have tons!

For my son in law, I did practical stuff too plus hot sauces instead of candy.

Emily

Veteran

I always put a cool nail polish, gum, and some nice coffee in my mom's stocking. Then maybe some chocolate, fun stationary, or a cd I think she'll like. For my DH, I put in small vinyl toys, candies, cds, and card games.

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MsMary

Veteran

If you do get to Trader Joe's, one of the things I love there is their green tea scented bath soap!

anne

Veteran

Me neither Angie. DH had them growing up though.

elpgal

Veteran

Not a stocking stuffer but this year for our secret santa exchange with a $5 price limit, I am doing 'emergency supplies' - so small flashlights, one of those reusable bags that is compacted into a case, seat belt cutter, small pack of batteries.

gryffin

Veteran

Susie - Too funny. We all think we have too many post-its until we run out! All great ideas. I love the hot sauce idea!! Thanks!
Emily - I love the coffee idea. Also cards - I didn't think of that at all, super idea!! and stationary too. You never think about it until you need it. I'm the princess of cd's, dvd's and video games - guys are sick of them so these ideas are great!! Many thanks!!
MaryK - green tea bath soap sounds positively divine!! Have you ever tried Bulgari's au the vert (can't figure out how to put the accent over the e!)? My husband actually asked a woman what perfume she was wearing and bought me a bottle. Very soft and pretty. Is that sweet or what!! It's base is green tea too!!

gryffin

Veteran

Anne - we need to get you a stocking too!! Too much fun to miss out on!!
Elpgal - that is a totally awesome idea!! Although I think the real magic is how you are getting all of that for $5!! Great gift and I sure it will be really appreciated!

E

Veteran

Oh in addition to fair trade chocolate, one year my mom put in usb sticks, which was incredibly helpful! If anyone's a photographer, memory cards (the right size for their camera) are always nice. My mom usually adds a small gift card to a cafe too (my sister and I are in our mid 20s now but we still celebrate Christmas at home so my mom's always the stocking stuffer). Also, those re-usable nylon shopping bags that fold up very small would make a good stuffer. And books, if you know the person's a reader, especially used books which can be got for a song.

minimalist

Veteran

Angie, what about klompen on St. Nicholas?

No stockings here, but I might join that practice late as an excuse to buy MaryK's green tea soap.

Speaking of $5 secret Santa, is there ever an "accessible" elf exchange at YLF? I joined YLF too late to sign up for the standard one, so I'm not sure how it works. But the threads I've seen make it sound less than feasible for those YLFers with lesser means or just different priorities.

Aquamarine

Veteran

Another vote for Trader Joe's. Lots of fun food items. I always include really good dark chocolate...I consider it a health food staple! And if I find them, I include chocolate oranges as a nod to the Little House on the Prairie books...Laura and Mary used to receive an orange for Christmas, a real treat. Yes, I am a book nerd

ManidipaM

Veteran

I love E's used books idea best for my own stocking. You can't ever have too many in my world!

I also seem always short on and delighted over hats, mitts/gloves and socks because I run cold and hv Raynaud's. The year I got ear muffs i was jubilant! My hands, feet and lips always appreciate little tubes and pots and chunks of buttery things. And I adore sweet or spicy treats, bath supplies and practical little tools like sweater shavers, lint rollers, razor refills, hair accessories, bookmarks, letter openers, trinket boxes (I adore containers!). One of the sweetest stuffers I ever got was a case of CDs recorded with my favourite artistes... not albums but sets of favourites mixed together in petsonalised playlists.

For giving, I have a reputation as a giver of suds. Soaps for big people and bubble wands and bubble baths for little ones :-p

Pretty push pins and magnetic notepads for those who plan their lives up a wall are favourites. Seed packets for those with gardens. Thimbles or new needles or bobbins or a packet of buttons or a few yards of trim for those who sew or crochet. Earphones for music lovers. Stress balls as a loving hint to the cranky puss in your life. Claim vouchers for time spent with you, a favourite treat, a massage, a chore exemption or chore done etc always go into family and close mates' stockings.

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