Christmas is fast approaching and while you may have started crossing your holiday gift giving of your list, how are you doing on stockings?? I love stockings, I love creating that cornucopia effect of a stocking that is filled to bursting and has also overflowed onto the sofa next to it. But I must say it does get hard to keep up with it every year, and inevitably stockings end up being that list minute errand I am running the couple of days before Christmas, rather than sitting by the fire sipping tea and playing games. So if this is you too, here is a list of stocking stuffer ideas that will hopefully help you get over the hump a little early and free up those days to be filled with a little more Christmas magic.
So first things first…Where should you shop for stocking stuffers? Well Amazon is amazing in a pinch and you can really knock off a whole list, but it can also be more expensive for the little stuff or require you to buy multiples, which can be cost effective if you are filling 15 stockings, not so much if it’s one-sies and two-sies. So if you have the time and can make multiple stops here are the places I usually hit up (online or in store) every year for my stocking stuffers. But if you don’t have time I’ve tried to link everything in online so you can let them do all the running around. *note this post does contain some affiliate links.
- CVS/Rite aid/Walgreens/Drug store of your choosing
- Dollar store & 5 Below: OH the things you can find at the dollar store!
- World Market
- Anthropologie
- Ace Hardware (or other more local hardware store)
- Home Goods / TJ Maxx / Marshals
- Target/Walmart (specifically the travel section, accessories section, and stationary sections)
- The Grocery Store
The Usual Suspects:
These are the things that are on my shopping list year after year for stocking stuffers.
- Chapstick: go to ones include Burts Bees and Sunbum (or go for something funky like this bourbon flavored one)
- Flossers: these for adults and these fun ones for kids
- Lotion: Neutrogena Hand Cream unscented and great for all hands!
- Travel Size: Deodorant, toothpaste, Q tips (check out Target travel section for this!)
- Lottery Scratchers (assuming no issues with gambling and they are of legal age )
- Socks – There are not shortage of options here, but be thoughtful about what weight style and size of sock they may wear.
- Underwear – This is mostly for the men in my life (my husband and son) but i do like to refresh the undies drawer with some new designs this time of year.
- loofa – The natural ones are a nice change of pace
- Tweezers/ Revlon nail clippers/ Glass Nail File – All of these things can dull with use, and sometimes its nice to get a fresh set, Grooming is for everyone!
- Hair elastics (aka Cat toys) / Velvet scrunchies
- To Do lists pads
- Gold Paper Drinking straws
- Extra tech cords and wall warts
- Band-Aids – get something they are into: Bees, Baseball, or Pineapple shaped
Food, Snacks & Treats
- Chocolate orange: traditionally oranges were placed in stockings as a Christmas morning treat.
- Their Favorite candy ( chocolate sunflower seeds, Toblerone)
- See’s Candies: You guys, I know this is a west coast thing, but in our house its just not Christmas without some Sees! Here are the favs that show up in stockings: Lollypops, Molasses Chips, Toffe-etts, and the Chocolate Santa!
- Snacks: Beef Jerky, Fun international snacks(check out world market for lots of options here)
- Seasoning: Interesting seasonings, like Herb de Provence, Lemon Pepper, or Louisiana blackened seasoning are fun, but you can also go with things you know they use and love (anyone else’s husband put garlic salt and lemon pepper on everything?) – Note you can find some fun stuff at the dollar store and World market)
- Minis of their favorite things: Salsa, Hot Sauce tasting set, La Marca
- Teas: My husband and I have been loving this Low caffeine Peppermint chocolate tea
- Individually packaged hot chocolate mix – I love Land-O-Lakes
- Special Spreads: Cinnamon Pear Jam, Hot Honey, Chocolate (Nutella)
- “lump of Cole”: Naughty tic tacs : They always have these at the checkout at our grocery store and the sour cherry “naughty” ones are actually pretty good.
For Him:
- Shoe polish for all colors of leather
- Mini Flashlight
- Extra Strength Toilet Spray
- Tire pressure gauge
- Mini Retractable lint roller
- RFID Passport cover
- Cleaning Gel
- Wallet Multitool (that is actually TSA Approved!)\
- Bro Masks for him
- Sleeping mask
- Cord Keepers
- Travel Journal
For Her:
- Reusable Snack and lunch bags
- Daily Plan Notepad
- Jewelry Polishing Cloth
- Reusable shopping bag
- Cute Note cards
- Cute sticky notes
- Over night Face masks
- Lumee Deodorant
- Mascara: did you know these should be 3 to 6 months to avoid eye irritation?
- Tocca lotion
- Facewash
- French manicure Nail polish Kit or (short cut) French tip press ons
- lip masks
- Eye masks
- Leather Bow cord keepers
The Kiddos
For Babies:
- Sensory ball or toy
- Warm Pals Stuffed Animal
- Teething chewy
- Racoon Puppet Wash glove
- Yogurt Melts
- Touch and Feel Board book – You can find these really cheap at places like Marshals and TJ Maxx.
- Crumpled up Christmas paper: yup, seriously!
- Measuring cups and spoons from your kitchen! Wrap them up, let them play, wash them and put them away.
- Really, you don’t need a lot in the stocking, rather than loading up short term use things ( opt for items that they could use for a long time, or healthy snacks and consumables.
For toddlers:
- Nesting dolls
- Puzzles
- Reusable Sticker books
- bath crayons
- Water Wow
- Spill Proof Bubbles
- Hot Wheels – ALSO So many at the dollar store!
- Spinning top
- Playdough Mini – this variety pack is a pretty good deal if you have a party city near you
For Kids:
- Rubik’s cubes – speed cube!
- Stamp Pens
- Toy Train in a tin
- Break and discover GEODE Kit
- Mad Libs
- Glow in the dark stars or wall decals
- Pocket Microscope
- Thinking Putty – Good old fashioned silly putty is great too, and you can find it at the dollar store, but this is a fun upgrade to an old favorite.
By Interest:
For the Cocktail lover:
- Champagne stopper
- Cute bitters bottle
- Fleur De lis Cocktail skewers or These Art Deco ones
- Gold Bee Swizzle Sticks
- Little Umbrellas
- Luxardo Cherries
- Garnish peeler (aka Chanel Knife)
- Elevated Measuring jigger (for cocktails)
- Tasting glasses Cordial Glasses
- French Specialty Syrup: They are all are amazing, I love the Strawberry and Passionfruit, but they also have some fascinating other flavors like Bergamot!
- Personal Size Cocktail Shaker
- Splurge: This Wine Bottle opener
For the Hostess:
- Colorful Ornament Cocktail napkins and these cute Blue and white Christmas topiary napkins
- Citrus Grove Tea towels
- Gold Bee Napkin rings
- Little Cheese Spreaders
- Wine Charms
- Cute Matches
- Dish and Bowl Cover Set
- Book: The hostess Handbook
- Bee Slate Coasters from AE Williams Pewter
- Wine Vacuum Sealer
For the Baker
- Baking sheet dividers/stackers
- Russian Piping tips (for making epic flowers)
- Wilton Disposable Piping Bags
- Bag clips
- Jar scraper spoon
- This adorable Spatula Set
- Extra Kitchen Timers
- Blue and White mini Muffin cups
For the Techie
- 4 in 1 charging cable
- Super Slim Mini Portable charger: Comes in a cute lime print too
- Ergonomic mouse
- Electronics Travel organizer
- Touch Screen Gloves in lots of colors
- Multi Plug Outlet extender
- Tile Bluetooth Key finder
- Retractable USB-C Cable
For the Adventurer/Outdoors person:
- Pocket water bottle or this Collapsable water bottle : because who wants to carry around the water bottle when the water is all gone?
- Waterproof phone Pouch: If you know, you know!
- Flint Match Stick
- Goodr Sun Glasses
- Safety Whistle
- Liquid IV – Pick this up at a grocery store otherwise it will be a huge package from amazon 😛
For the Green Thumb:
- Clippers : They will always need another pair of clippers
- Garden Gloves: They will also always need more gloves! (i swear i don’t know where they all go)
- Sunscreen
- Seed Packets
- Garden Label steaks
- Strawberry seed Pop
- Botanical Keepers
- Rose Pruning Gloves
For the Crafters & Artists:
- Travel watercolor set W/ Water brushes, & Water color Paper Journal
- Nitrile blue gloves
- Calligraphy starter set
- Washi Tape
- Sketch Book
- Embroidery starter Kit
- Clove Oil: this helps keep your paints from drying out if you put a bit on a cotton ball in your sealed pallet, it also smells REALLY good!
A couple of notes and suggestions:
- Make a mental note to pick up stocking stuffers when you are traveling, a few thoughtful and exotic items from across the globe can really add some delight
- Know your people, try to give them items they will actually use, refills of their favorite products are great because they didn’t have to buy them, and you know they will probably be gone by next year.
Happy shopping and Happy Holidays to everyone!