In the past we've filled our stockings with a lot of junk. You know, stuff you end up stepping on and throwing away like little plastic toys that aren't useful. Here's what I'm planning on filling our stockings with this year.
- candy
- Gouda cheese (big bag from Costco)
- wooden toy to be assembled and painted (you know, the $1 kind at the craft store). The kids love those and even though we eventually throw them away its fun for them to paint and assemble them.
- one fruit-with a message on how to prepare it to go into the fruit salad we'll have for breakfast.
- one individual item. Katie-hand made doll outfit, Grant-a new silk. Carl-wasabi peanuts etc.
- a new ornament for next year.
I need more ideas. Do you have any?
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17 comments:
THANK YOU for sharing these awesome ideas...stockings have always been my favorite...and now my kids are feeling the same.
But every year I struggle to fill them, so thanks for fun ideas.
My girls love lipgloss/chapstick. We usually do that.
warning - don't let your kids read this -
when my kids turn 12 they get to participate in filling the stockings. everyone gets $ 5 - 10 to spend on stocking stuffers for everyone. then on Christmas eve everyone leaves the room and the youngest child puts their items in the stockings, then the next oldest, etc. til Mom and Dad finish up. We always include a new toothbrush, chapstick/blistex, pens, pencils, small notebooks to be used as a journal or scripture notebook. Sometimes we include small containers of play dough, little bottles of maple syrup, bookmarks. one year someone gave each of us five smooth polished rocks. that was exciting!
My husband LOVES freshly ground pepper and got a new pepper mill last Christmas. This year he will get a lovely peppercorn mix (the kind with multi-colored peppercorns) in his stocking. He's already hinting, so, even though I *did* think of it on my own, he won't be surprised. :)
For the kids, they've started getting letters from Santa in their stockings. Fortunately for us, Santa shares our values, and writes their notes comparing them to prominent characters from the scriptures and telling them how they can be closer to Heavenly Father. It's a great way to reinforce the lessons we are trying to teach them and bring the true meaning of Christmas into the excitement of Christmas morning!
We now receive something for our 72 hour kits. Last year everyone received a shiny blanket. The rest of the stuff include an orange, candy cane, dollar, small toy, and some nuts. Oh, and a toothbrush.
My mom used to wrap up floss, tooth brushes, books of stamps (when we were in college), chocolate santa, deodorant, etc. Mainly functional things. One year she wrapped up a nice pearl necklacd and put it there. The next day she asked me if I liked the necklace (I guess she thought I didn't say thank you). As it turned out, I never saw it- it had gotten thrown away with the papers. So, moral of the story is, don't put in nice things!
These are some great ideas! Swimmingmom, so sad to hear about your pearl necklace, lost forever. I will definitely make a note of it. Toothbrushes, we must be one of the only ones who doesn't do that. That will certainly be a new addition. Love the dollar idea too, that would be a great hit.
These are REALLY good ideas, I'm taking notes! We always wrap up each child's favorite breakfast cereal (smaller box) and put if behind the stocking..they feel special with their own private box.
army guys always fill up some space.
goldfish packs, or chips.
I always put those little "mad libs" notebooks in Jimmy's stocking. I like the ideas of toothbrushes, chapsticks and dollars. That's fun - I will remember that for when I have chillens.
Also, hehehe @ wasabi peanuts. I bought wasabi peas (not peanuts) at Big Lots last Christmas for a funny white elephant gift. That's so fun to me that Carl really likes wasabi stuff :)
My parents always did candy & an apple & orange. Then they would put in something special. The present I remember most from a stocking was these pretty clip on earrings (cause I had to be 12 to get my ears pierced) and so my parents got me these clip ons. I loved that ;o). I like what Libby said about the Santa having the same morals LOL! Talking about how they relate to the Scripture characters ;o) CUTE!
Oh a rule we had in our house was we could open our stockings before mom & dad got up, but we had to wait to open the actual presents until everyone was assembled. And of course I had the job of getting mom & dad up & I would get stuck laying in their bed waiting...not getting to enjoy my stocking LOL ;o) It was a precious moment though...maybe why I am so close to my parents now ;o)!
After watching Leigh's kids with some easy cheese yesterday, i thought that would be a really exciting one for little kids or any and all men (i'm thinking dad's stocking definitely needs it)
For stockings I have always done a couple candies, an orange, raisins, goldfish crackers or animal crackers then something like -- stickers, bubbles, glitter glue, coloring book or activity book, playdoh, and usually one little toy.
Many good ideas! I love the different thoughts. When I was growing up we had candy, an orange a peppermint stick and a silver dollar in our stockings. My Grandma T. had saved many silver dollars and gave them to Santa to put in our stockings.
When I moved away from home, I found out that people put presents in the stockings. I then started looking for anything small that would intrigue my children. Santa here has put puzzles, crayons, holiday or lego pencils, chapstick, money, etc. in the stockings. I have been doing themed stockings for the past few years. One year: red things. The next year: green things. This year not sure of the color--need to decide quickly.
OOps, I was letting Claire read your blog with me, and had to quickly scroll up on this section. Great ideas!! We also stick in a can of Pringle or Lays chips (not very healthy, but salty is nice with all the sweet). It only costs $1, and takes up a bit of space.
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