Stocking / Advent filler ideas

[Taylor'sMom]

I thought I would start a thread for stocking stuffer and Advent Calendar filler ideas. Please feel free to add ideas you have! I haven't gotten much of anything yet, just sharing ideas or purchases in past years.

Stocking Stuffer ideas for DD (11)
- Fun colorful socks
- lotion, shower gel, splash
- shower scrubbie/poof
- bottle of inexpensive perfume
- wallet
- cell phone case
- jewelry
- set of nail polish, files, etc.
- fun pens or pencils
- hair brush
- hair accessories (elastics, headbands)
- DVDS (I only put in stocking if they are cheap... if its new release or one from her wish list I usually save as a gift or under the tree)

Advent Calendar filler ideas:
(We have an Advent calendar that is a small "cabinet" with a compartment to fill each day).
- Some days I fill very cheaply with a piece of candy (like a couple Hershey kisses saved from my holiday baking supplies!)
- pack of gum or tic-tacs
- inexpensive pair of earrings (check Claire's clearance)... could be holiday themed so she can wear throughout the month
- hair elastics
- lip gloss/chap stick
- Disney pin
- nail polish (especially a "holiday" one, like red or green or glittery)

I usually stop at a store called Five Below and pick up stocking & advent items. They are all cheap but it adds up!

Would love to hear everyone else's ideas!!!

 

[karliebug]

When my kids were small I put arts and crafts items in their stockings like play doh, watercolor paint sets, stickers, small craft sets,etc. as they grew I put health and beauty items in them like nail polish, make up, lip gloss, bath puffs, perfumes, and gift cards to favorite fast food or ice cream places.

 

[MomToOne]

We travel cross-country to my mother's for Christmas. Because of that "Santa" brings his under the tree gifts the weekend before we leave - the only thing he leaves on Christmas Eve is the stocking because that's the only stuff that fits in the suitcases . So to make Christmas morning still exciting to wake up to, he fills the stocking with a bit more than the normal stocking stuffers. (DD is also flooded with gifts from family on Christmas Eve and gets more gifts from some family friends Christmas day, so all in all doing just the stocking allows for a good balance and helps avoid overload.)

This year, so far "he" has the following for DD14's stocking:
- A couple of fashion scarves. DD loves these.
- Vera Bradley mini hipster (this was going to be an under the tree gift, but I think it will fit in the stocking so I think I am repurposing it for that)
- Coach id wallet for her bus pass/school id
- Taylor Swift perfume and small lotion
- Some new fun cases for her iPod touch, and the cell phone she will be getting (you can find lots of them super cheap on eBay but they often ship from China and take forever to get here so you have to order WAY early)
- EOS lipgloss
- Maybe a new Contigo Water bottle. I managed to acquire an extra, and it'd be useful for her at school. But it will take up a ton of space in the stocking - I'm not sure if that's good or bad yet

I picked up all of that stuff throughout the year on sale or clearance, so it really wasn't hugely expensive but DD doesn't need to know that LOL I'll probably add a Wallflower from Bath and Body Works - she really wants one of their candles, but I'm not ready to let DD have an open flame in her room Plus maybe some BBW hand sanitizers and/or shower gel. I'll also add lots of her favorite candy - maybe I'll stuff a lot of that inside the water bottle!

I still have some budget available for a few more things. I don't have anything particular in mind yet, but I'm sure I'll find plenty that catches my eye.

 

[Taylor'sMom]

Great reminder about ipod/phone cases on ebay. Amazon has lots for cheap too, but yes, order early as they take weeks to arrive from Asia! (and always check seller feedback first!)

 

[mjbaby]

Just subscribing!

 

[worm761]

DS is getting new chopsticks we picked up for him at Disney. We always stuff in one of those chocolate oranges, Japanese marble soda, Botan rice candy. I am not sure beyond that though for his stocking.

DD is only 4. I have no clue what to put in hers. I need to start looking.

Here is an ultimate stocking stuffer list I found on Pinterest: http://www.meetpenny.com/2012/11/ultimate-stocking-stuffer-list-for-the-whole-family-500-ideas/

 

[StephMK]

I just bought my girls, 14 & 20, keychain flashlights at Office Depot. They are glittery and have rhinestones around the base. Cheap & cute to throw in a purse for nighttime. The light is super bright!

I also bought DD20 some pepper spray in a pink case that was on sale there too. I hope she never needs it but since she lives off campus and often travels alone at school, I figured it would be something she can keep handy at her apt. or in her purse.

Last year, I bought screaming monkeys for DS12 & my nephew. They were a big, silly hit. I found them on Amazon but I know they are found different places. Menard's had them super cheap on Black Friday but I missed that deal. Just in case anyone has them in mind for this year!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

So far for DD18 I have some body spray and a small manicure kit. For DS13 I have a skylander. I think I'll pick up portable phone chargers for my kids with phones and some gloves you can use with a touchscreen.

I always get DS17 some kind of gag gift, last year it was some hand sanitizer that said "I heart my p****" so I'll need to start looking for something good.

I'm not sure what else. I like to look at Cracker Barrel for little toys and brain teasers.

 

[Muushka]

Just subscribing!

Me too!

I go through this each Christmas

 

[Taylor'sMom]

Bump

 

[daystar91]

Me too!

I go through this each Christmas

Me three...

 

[MomToOne]

I posted this in another Christmas gift thread, but thought I'd mention it here too, since I'm adding it to DD14s stocking: I got a telescoping Monopod that fits cell phones with a blue tooth remote to operate it. We saw people using them all over France this summer, mostly to get better "selfies" that included more of the city sights behind them. Right up a teenagers alley! I can also picture DD using it to take pictures of the cat hiding under the bed - she really likes to take pictures and video of our cat (who is a really cool cat)

Here's what I got, if you have no clue what I'm talking about: http://www.ebay.com/itm/17146679725...49&var=470508484157&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT. (Disclaimer: I have no idea what the quality is like, but reviews on Amazon for what looked to be the same thing were good enough for me to pull the trigger.)

I have to say I look for items like this, that are small enough to fit in the stocking, but big enough that they take up plenty of room in it. Otherwise, you can spend a fortune filling a stocking!

 

[clh2]

I posted this in another Christmas gift thread, but thought I'd mention it here too, since I'm adding it to DD14s stocking: I got a telescoping Monopod that fits cell phones with a blue tooth remote to operate it. We saw people using them all over France this summer, mostly to get better "selfies" that included more of the city sights behind them. Right up a teenagers alley! I can also picture DD using it to take pictures of the cat hiding under the bed - she really likes to take pictures and video of our cat (who is a really cool cat)

Here's what I got, if you have no clue what I'm talking about: http://www.ebay.com/itm/17146679725...49&var=470508484157&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT. (Disclaimer: I have no idea what the quality is like, but reviews on Amazon for what looked to be the same thing were good enough for me to pull the trigger.)

I have to say I look for items like this, that are small enough to fit in the stocking, but big enough that they take up plenty of room in it. Otherwise, you can spend a fortune filling a stocking!

Love this idea!

 

[clh2]

Just tossing out an idea that we used for DD's stocking when she was a freshman in college. $50 in crisp brand new $1 dollar bills.

We felt that DD wasn't participating in any "spur of the moment" activities I.e. Let's get a pizza on a Friday night, or let's stop by Starbucks on the way to class types of things. So-this gave her the option to do that. She Loved this!

 

[bennifer]

Just tossing out an idea that we used for DD's stocking when she was a freshman in college. $50 in crisp brand new $1 dollar bills.

We felt that DD wasn't participating in any "spur of the moment" activities I.e. Let's get a pizza on a Friday night, or let's stop by Starbucks on the way to class types of things. So-this gave her the option to do that. She Loved this!

Love this idea for the stocking! DS19 has decided he only wants cash, and gets mad about any gifts. Last Christmas I put $100 in 1 dollar bills all balled up in a big box and wrapped it.

 

[tcufrog]

World Market is a great place for stocking stuffers. They have a great selection of novelty food and candy, little toys, fancy bath products, jewelry, candles, and ornaments. My dh and I always visit there.

I also like to visit dollar and $5 and under stores.

Lego minifigures make great stocking stuffers and Advent calender fillers. Once I went on ebay and bought at a big discount a whole minifigure series. Each day my son got another one. It was a big hit. Another year I got my son a new Lego set. Each day for Advent he got part of the set to put together but he didn't know what set it was until the end.

My go to stocking stuffers:

-fun keychains. Kids like to hang them on their backpacks
-nicely scented purse sized hand sanitizers, lotion bars in tins or hand lotions. The ones that are attached to mini carabiners are especially popular because they don't get lost in purses as easily
-Santa always brings the kids band aids with fun prints on them.
-mini spy gear like mini binoculars or microscopes
-puppet hand tattoos
-mini craft kits
-stick on mustaches
-fun winter hats or gloves
-small bottles of exotic hot sauce
-unusual spices
-travel Kleenex packs with fun prints on them
-purse hangers

 

[kuhltiffany]

Great thread! I find stocking often end up costing $100 or more sometimes

I'm always trying to get my kids to read more, so I tend to put books, joke books, comics and magazines in theirs.

 

[Taylor'sMom]

Bump

 

[Dashzap]

Besides candy, I put in cute USB drives. They always need them for school, or to exchange files with friends, and they seem to get lost.

Also, itty bitty book lights.



Perhaps this year I will skip my usual schpeel of how when I was young, memory was so expensive...and huge. My first job I lugged around a 40 mg hard drive that was about the size of a cigar box. The kids' eyes glaze over when I get going.