So back to the point. I click on these other links, anticipating a flood of super ideas that I just won't know which ones to pick, there will be so many good ideas. And normally, I am sorely disappointed. Like the most recent list I found. #143: Kindle. Seriously?! Who gives Kindles in stockings?? If you are like me, you are about to give up clicking on stocking-stuffer-idea links. But I hope you will click on mine before you completely give up. Well, if you are reading this, you've clicked, so before you decide I'm just going to rant about bad stocking stuffer lists, here is my list, compiled from random ones floating around in cyberspace, with only the truly cheap and not-stupid ideas included.
- *Cool cupcake liners (I found packages of 50 on clearance for $1 at Michael's).
- *Sharpies, black and colored, because it seems like although you have 7 of them, they all either mysteriously disappear or go dry the minute you actually need one. The same thing could be said of nail clippers and scissors.
- Sweet-smelling sachets--here's one made with envelopes.
- Crayons--homemade, like these, or store bought to replace all the broken ones used to make homemade ones.
- Loofah, or as I call it, a Poof, which either way is a funny word. (I just learned that they are supposed to be replaced every month. In that case, I am sorely overdue!)
- *Stickers.
- *Batteries (every guy needs these!).
- Cooking extracts, although I haven't checked to see how expensive they are--almond, orange, etc. (So I looked at Walmart the other day and they run about $2, but all the flavors I could find (other than vanilla) had alcohol in them...so...)
- *Washcloths (after 7 years of marriage, mine are getting close to needing to be replaced; also, when I was a kid, we each had our own personal washcloth. It was pretty cool.).
- *Unusual pasta, and if it comes in a big box, you might have to take the noodles out and put them in a "baggie" (as my mom says).
- *Gift cards and tickets to places--restaurants, the zoo, aquarium, etc. Those are probably on the expensive side, so I suggest browsing groupon.com or livingsocials.com for good deals on tickets.
- *Books (2nd and Charles puts out books for free every week--I've gotten a lot of good books there, for kids, my husband, and myself).
- Cool soap--homemade like this fish in a bag soap, or a nice scent you buy from Wal-mart. I'm not normally interested in soap I have to make, because it seems like there are so many expensive ingredients, but this recipe seems pretty simple.
- Bath toys--really, just go to the clearance section in the baby department and anything cheap and small will work here!
- Child-size harmonica (because us adults wouldn't like to play a harmonica? or maybe they cost a lot...let me look it up...oh yeah, it's the cost. An adult one is between $35-$200, and a child one is around $5).
- Personalized coffee cup (buy dollar tree mug and write on it w/ sharpie and bake).
- Package of bookmarks--normally, I wouldn't list this, because most people think, how many bookmarks does one person really need? Well, when you have an avid reader with a short attention span like I do, you need a surprising lot. Here's a link that shows how to make photo bookmarks, although the dollar section at Target has packages of 50.
- *Plastic tupperwear sets (like from the dollar tree)--because you can rationalize all you want why you keep those plastic containers from 1998 that have permanent orange stains on 90% of the inside, but seriously, a new stack only costs one dollar! Although now that I think about it, that might be too big to fit in a normal-sized stocking.
- *Cool buttons.
- *Slinky, especially if you have stairs.
- Samples--they are free! I don't suggest renting a hotel room so you can take the shampoo and conditioner samples, however. There are companies that send out samples of their (cheaper) products that you don't have to return. 4imprint.com has a ton of items, from shirts and backpacks to USB chargers and drink coasters. I'm sure there are others out there, also.
- *Glow sticks (my kid loves having a glow bath--you just snap a couple glow sticks and put them in the water and turn the light out!).
- *Silly straws (they don't really last that long, but whenever I had one as a kid, I REALLY enjoyed it).
- Personalized ornaments, like your kid's handprint made into snowmen, or wire ones that I had a link for and now it is as lost as a snowball in a blizzard.
- Window markers (amazon sells them here--how fun would a rainy day turn into with these?!).
- *Individual boxes of cereal--I keep seeing this on lists, and every time I do, I think a little more how cool it would be (even as an adult) to get a small box of frosted flakes or whatever in my stocking. Maybe if everyone got their own box, there would be breakfast, right there...hm...interesting idea for a tradition.
- *Spools of ribbon.
- *Patterned duck tape.
So I was going to have a humongously long list here, but even I have limits to my creativity. It looked like I was only going to have 21 things on my list, which was really cool because I like the number 21. When I was a kid, we had a Nintendo 64 and on this one level of Mario, it took me like, a million tries to beat it, and every time Mario died, I had 21 coins. This happened every single time. Eventually, the number 21 just wormed its way into my favorites folder in my brain. But then I thought up the 22nd thing, then the 23rd thing, and so on, so oh well for only 21 things.
Anyway, enjoy my list, and feel free to add your favorite items you like to find in your stocking. {There were some things I didn't include on purpose (candy, fruit, pez) that seemed to be on everyone else's lists, because let's face it: those are not original ideas. So if you can think up favorite original ideas, have at it.} :-)
P.S. I *ed the stuffers above that I or my family would specifically like. :-) Here are some ideas for actual Christmas presents that are unique and/or unusual but I have decided that I'm not going to be ashamed to say that I would enjoy getting.
- Specialty bread, like potato bread, or cinnamon raisin bagels. Something that you just don't buy every day because it is just that much more expensive than normal pb&j bread.
- Candles. I'm not a huge fan of "outdoor" smells (flowers, trees, ocean waves, etc), but I love just about every other scent (twisted peppermint's my fav, by the way.)
- Fabric squares. I think they're called Fat Quarters. Get me four patterns that go together and I'll make a quilt and give it to you next year! (unless the patterns are Japanese-y or lighthouses, then I'm keeping it) :-)
- Necklaces. I LOVE necklaces. Silver, gold, wood, fabric, if it goes around my neck, I'm interested (except for animals--when would I ever want to wear a sheep or owl or dog around my neck???). I have a ton already, but one really cannot have too many necklaces. Strangely enough, I don't have any Alabama themed ones, yet.
- Meal-in-a-box. As long as I don't have to add 62 million ingredients to what's already in the box, I'm good. And before you feel like it's so sad that I would mention groceries as viable Christmas presents, let me tell you that it is so much more than groceries. It is a trip to the store, it is endless walking up and down the aisles, it is boring standing in line, it is not having to plan what to eat. So NOT just groceries.
- For EJ: any toy or game that teaches him something is good. He does NOT need random toys with no higher purpose. Geography games, magnifying glass; I have a list of Math and Science reading-for-pleasure books that I think he'd like too. I want to check them out at the library first, then I want to actually own them.
And of course, you could take a couple of the stocking stuffers that I *ed and wrap 'em up together. We're really not a picky bunch. :-)