Stocking Stuffers for kids or adults to me are the most fun -to hunt down, wrap in paper scraps and to watch them open. And with a week to go, you can get all of these locally - many right at the drugstore hardware store, any game shop, a stationery store, etc... So whether whimsical or practical, they will appreciate these.
Personalize a few items to each person, then add things that everyone welcomes: some kind of toy and sweet is mandatory to bring back childhood fun! Other categories are below. The hunt is so much fun. And wear a Santa hat, because you'll have plenty of ideas in no time. TIP: Look near the cashier, as the things positioned there to tempt "impluse buys" are often perfect for a stocking.TOYS even for adults bring that smile:
Magic Eight Ball: Hey, it's as good as any source for predictions in these times!
Wooly Willy: You must remember this fun use of magnetization. Found on Amazon.
Rubics Cube, Slinky, rubber chicken, Harmonica, talking fish, Silly Putty -Still found at most drugstores and certainly at ToysRUS or novelty stores.
Rubics Cube, Slinky, rubber chicken, Harmonica, talking fish, Silly Putty -Still found at most drugstores and certainly at ToysRUS or novelty stores.Also look for snow globes and tiny wind up novelties.
Voice Changers come with little clip on mic and speaker the size of a cell phone, you can sound like 9 different voice disguising effects.
Keychains with games -- I've seen these all over, a keychian or pen that at the end has plastic Soduku, or the old game like Operation, etc... It's just for the fun of opening, not necessarily practical.
Celestial Seasonings Teas:
This company makes wonderful teas in bags for the season, with names like Candy Cane Lane, gingerbread spice, Nutcracker Sweet it's a great stocking stuffer. They make a nice, mild green tea and my ultimate favorite is their almond tea. They even have African and Rooibos tea. Should be able to be found in any grocery store for under $4 for 20 bags. Also special: Numi, Pukka, Tazo. If not a seasonal flavor, go for an exotic flavor they might not get themselves.
Flavored Cocoa: Grocery stores can carry individual packets of fancy flavors perfect for a stocking in the coffee/tea aisle.
GOT A HEALTH NUT? How about granola bars? A bag of tamari roasted almonds? Packets of flavored Emergen-C (found at most vitamin shops and helathy grocery stores)? Ginger candies? A small jar of exotic honey or cashew butter? There may be single service protein shake packs for the body builder. And Paul Newman's Own makes a ling of organic chocolate bars and carob treats. You can find little packets of collagen booster or even bone broth - they'll use them for sure.
Flavored Cocoa: Grocery stores can carry individual packets of fancy flavors perfect for a stocking in the coffee/tea aisle.
GOT A HEALTH NUT? How about granola bars? A bag of tamari roasted almonds? Packets of flavored Emergen-C (found at most vitamin shops and helathy grocery stores)? Ginger candies? A small jar of exotic honey or cashew butter? There may be single service protein shake packs for the body builder. And Paul Newman's Own makes a ling of organic chocolate bars and carob treats. You can find little packets of collagen booster or even bone broth - they'll use them for sure.
HOUSEWARES:
Champagne stopper-THE BEST -- You can seal a newly opened bottle and open it two weeks later as if it were the first time. No more wast of expensive bubbly! Take this picture to your local fancy housewares or liquor store to find or buy at Amazon for New Years too... CLICK HERE $5.99 on Amazon.
Champagne stopper-THE BEST -- You can seal a newly opened bottle and open it two weeks later as if it were the first time. No more wast of expensive bubbly! Take this picture to your local fancy housewares or liquor store to find or buy at Amazon for New Years too... CLICK HERE $5.99 on Amazon.
Chip clips - can find at Bed Bath and Beyond, but most houseware and grocery stores.
Netted produce bags that they can wash and reuse again and again at the store, and cut down on plastics.
HEALTH/BEAUTY/GROOMING: These can be fanciful items or totally practical: A new toothbrush, or replacement heads if they have an electric brush like Braun. Contact lens fluid, mulit-vitamins, nail polish I think Essie is the best, hands down), lip liner or gloss, razor replacement heads or a new pack of disposables, aftershave, small travel sized hand lotions. Eyeglass cleaner or shamy. Fizzy Bath balls or bubble bath (drugstores have inexpensive little gift packets which you can also pull apart to stuff a few stockings from). The list goes on and ON!
Magnifying Card -- like credit card, some with little lights that come on when you press, Fits in wallet. At Walgreens, CVS, etc.. "Seen on TV"Floss - I recommend Glide, the best kind that I've never know to stick or shred, no matter your dental work.
Blistex - Best mentholated chapstick in my book. Not waxy and sinks in to lip to heal instead of sliding right off your lips after a 3 sentence conversation like Get the tube with the slanted applicator. Or go for -- like refreshing cool water, in a bunch of flavors.
Soap on a Rope -- if you can find them, men like them. I've seen them in fancier places that carry men's cosmetics and shaving stuff for $9 (outrageous!) but you might find them cheaper.
Soap on a Rope -- if you can find them, men like them. I've seen them in fancier places that carry men's cosmetics and shaving stuff for $9 (outrageous!) but you might find them cheaper.
Shaving Cream replacement-- If your guy used a cake of shaving cream and a brush to lather up, he can always use more. I go with almond scented by Caswell Massey.
Plastic Travel cases -- If they travel they can never have enough of those little pill bottles, toothbrush caps, shampoo holders to fill with just enough of their favorite products to go.
Glasses Case-- Many colorful and classy styles and prices. It's the right shape for a stocking neck too!
CANDY:
Whatever penny candies were popular during their childhood will be the best, but there are fun seasonal items everywhere. Put a candy cane in for looks if nothing more, but if peppermint isn't their thing, there are plenty of new flavors usually available at your grocery store, if not Walmart or Target.
Caramel Nips - Hard candies with a surprise inside. At most markets and drugstores for .99-$1.49 Chocolait Parfait and Peanut Butter rock!
Individually wrapped Cookies: Mrs. Fields cookies and some Deluxe Oreos now come in single wrapped pacakges. You can find them at CVS/Walgreens in the food or candy aisle, or find boxes of 8 individually wrapped in the cookie aisle at the grocery store. These are great for the whole family.
Seasonal Treats --Reeces, M&M's and Hershey come out with the cutest stocking stuff every year. Candy canes filled with mini peantut butter cups, Little round M'M guys with arms and leggs filled with colored M&M's, etc... and there are plenty of marhsmellow and chocolate foli covered santas to stick in the toe of the stocking.
Individually wrapped Cookies: Mrs. Fields cookies and some Deluxe Oreos now come in single wrapped pacakges. You can find them at CVS/Walgreens in the food or candy aisle, or find boxes of 8 individually wrapped in the cookie aisle at the grocery store. These are great for the whole family.
Seasonal Treats --Reeces, M&M's and Hershey come out with the cutest stocking stuff every year. Candy canes filled with mini peantut butter cups, Little round M'M guys with arms and leggs filled with colored M&M's, etc... and there are plenty of marhsmellow and chocolate foli covered santas to stick in the toe of the stocking.
Lumps of coal -- A must for giggles -- in a palm sized burlap drawstring bag (for the fun of it...) If you have a Whole Foods nearby, they sell candy coal. Palmer makes some and usually sells through CVS, Rite Aid or Walgreens. Look while at Walmart and Target too.
LINDT Chocolates, which I think are the BEST hands down. Individually wrapped truffles that truly melt in your mouth. Buy anywhere from Bed Bath and Beyond to any drugstore and many grocery stores. Or go to Whole Foods for their triangular boxes of Organic truffles. There's chocolate, orange chocolate, and ones rolled in hazelnuts. DIVINE. Makes a great hostess gift too.
Or try GODIVA -- for the most sophisticated person on your stocking stuffing
list, Godiva has all kinds of elegant little packages with dark or milk covered nuts and fruits (rasberry and cherries this year). They also have little "pearls" in a tin for purse or briefcase in flavors like Chocolate mint and Caffe Latte. Barnes and Noble cafe sells the little gold boxes or larger seasonal ones and those are good. You may also find them in Macy's or in their own stores in any large fancy-store mall.
OFFICE/DESK STUFF:
DON'T FORGET:
An Ornament -- Home made is always a great idea for this one but if you're out of time, find many at Pier One, Target, Macy's, Hallmark Stores, or even Drug stores.
GIFT CARDS: I'm suggesting small things for these, as larger gift card amounts qualify for a regular gift, not just a stocking stuffer. Like a card from the local theater for a free movie or just for popcorn, a pizza at the best place in town, or a Starbucks card for your family addict. Chipotle and Subway are a healthier choice for fast foods. Home Depot is a great one too. Ask anywhere -- art suppply store, hardware, stationery store --especially in these times, almost any venue will make something up for you if they don't have it already.
A New Sharpie -- who can't use one of those? Come in all sizes now. Try the one without a cap (since leaving off the cap dries it out instantly, they've invented a click pen, like a ballpoint), or the mini ones with a carabiner. Great for peeps who work with ID laminates ribbons around their neck who also need a pen always handy.
White out (yes some still use it), post it notes, highlighter pens (especially one with the post-it tabs included), replacement box of staples, colorful pushpins for the teen/college kid, new sharp scissors (always need a spare), little tissue packs they sell with colors or designs, pretty package of cocktail napkins, sticky notes with funny sayings, a box of plain white, double-thick privacy envelopes which we always need, mini-note pads for purse, pocket or the car, a small box of thank you cards to encourage writing them - or better mailing them! Again, the ideas are endless at these stores.
Stamps -- get an unusual picture, as there are now SO many to choose from, but a roll of the flag will be really welcome. Can get any number you want at the post office teller, but one book holds 20.
Energy Saver Light bulbs -- You know, the ones that look like Dairy Queen swirls? At the grocery or hardware store, they can save the recipient lots of money, help the environment, and they'll cost you about $5. Stick a note on it saying "Put me in your most used lamp!" And why not throw in an energy saving strip cord as too.
Single disposable Fountain pens - these aren't the fancy, refillable ones but Pilot makes ones called Varsity in blue, black or violet inks. Should be at any fancy stationery store but also have found them at Staples and Office Depot. They also carry one time use fountain pens in turquoise, cranberry, lime green, violet, black and blue inks. Great for the budding writer, the avid journaler, or the person who loves history and older times.
THINK ABOUT THEIR HOBBY:
Bridge Players -- they use double decks (matching sets) of cards and can always use another. Pinochle has it's own special decks too.
Bird Lovers -- the little bells or lard covered squares can stuff if the sticking is wide enough. GoogLe a recipe and make yourself out of suet and seed. Gardeners Supply also has some wonderful birdseed wreathes. Check your local Ace Aubuchon, or Lowes or Home Depot - better yet, any mom and pop bird or hardware store.
For the Crafter --They'll LOVE paint brushes, plastic mixing cup, scrapbooking stickers, colored inks, stamps, origami papers, fine glitter (comes in amazing colors nowadays), little glues- all that fun stuff .
Knitters-- how about a unique color or texture ball of yarn, a new pattern to follow (just try to chose one for their skill level)... or crochet needles to help them try something new? Photo credit: textileviews.blogspot.com
Golfers - Can always use new balls or tees, etc... but they may be particular about the type. Sneak into their golf vase to look if you can.
There are too many to name but there is something little to stuff for everyone from the fly fisher to the yogini.
HARDWARE SUPPLIES: Screws, nails, drill heads, sandpaper in varying thicknesses, electrical tape, batteries (always a great staple for any stocking!), night light, LED light for keychain, the easy motion detector lights for outside the home or stairs inside, solar powered garden discs or lanterns - all very affordable.
White out (yes some still use it), post it notes, highlighter pens (especially one with the post-it tabs included), replacement box of staples, colorful pushpins for the teen/college kid, new sharp scissors (always need a spare), little tissue packs they sell with colors or designs, pretty package of cocktail napkins, sticky notes with funny sayings, a box of plain white, double-thick privacy envelopes which we always need, mini-note pads for purse, pocket or the car, a small box of thank you cards to encourage writing them - or better mailing them! Again, the ideas are endless at these stores.
Stamps -- get an unusual picture, as there are now SO many to choose from, but a roll of the flag will be really welcome. Can get any number you want at the post office teller, but one book holds 20.Energy Saver Light bulbs -- You know, the ones that look like Dairy Queen swirls? At the grocery or hardware store, they can save the recipient lots of money, help the environment, and they'll cost you about $5. Stick a note on it saying "Put me in your most used lamp!" And why not throw in an energy saving strip cord as too.
Single disposable Fountain pens - these aren't the fancy, refillable ones but Pilot makes ones called Varsity in blue, black or violet inks. Should be at any fancy stationery store but also have found them at Staples and Office Depot. They also carry one time use fountain pens in turquoise, cranberry, lime green, violet, black and blue inks. Great for the budding writer, the avid journaler, or the person who loves history and older times.
THINK ABOUT THEIR HOBBY:
Bridge Players -- they use double decks (matching sets) of cards and can always use another. Pinochle has it's own special decks too.
Bird Lovers -- the little bells or lard covered squares can stuff if the sticking is wide enough. GoogLe a recipe and make yourself out of suet and seed. Gardeners Supply also has some wonderful birdseed wreathes. Check your local Ace Aubuchon, or Lowes or Home Depot - better yet, any mom and pop bird or hardware store.
For the Crafter --They'll LOVE paint brushes, plastic mixing cup, scrapbooking stickers, colored inks, stamps, origami papers, fine glitter (comes in amazing colors nowadays), little glues- all that fun stuff .
Knitters-- how about a unique color or texture ball of yarn, a new pattern to follow (just try to chose one for their skill level)... or crochet needles to help them try something new? Photo credit: textileviews.blogspot.com
Golfers - Can always use new balls or tees, etc... but they may be particular about the type. Sneak into their golf vase to look if you can.
There are too many to name but there is something little to stuff for everyone from the fly fisher to the yogini.
HARDWARE SUPPLIES: Screws, nails, drill heads, sandpaper in varying thicknesses, electrical tape, batteries (always a great staple for any stocking!), night light, LED light for keychain, the easy motion detector lights for outside the home or stairs inside, solar powered garden discs or lanterns - all very affordable.
DON'T FORGET:
An Ornament -- Home made is always a great idea for this one but if you're out of time, find many at Pier One, Target, Macy's, Hallmark Stores, or even Drug stores.GIFT CARDS: I'm suggesting small things for these, as larger gift card amounts qualify for a regular gift, not just a stocking stuffer. Like a card from the local theater for a free movie or just for popcorn, a pizza at the best place in town, or a Starbucks card for your family addict. Chipotle and Subway are a healthier choice for fast foods. Home Depot is a great one too. Ask anywhere -- art suppply store, hardware, stationery store --especially in these times, almost any venue will make something up for you if they don't have it already.
There are more Stocking Stuffers that are specific year to year, and have links and prices in the whole category which you can find HERE.
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