As I’ve mentioned before, my friend Anne and I stuff each other’s stockings each year. It takes the pressure off of our husbands and we have a lot of fun. Several of you have asked for ideas of what we put in each other’s stockings. I’m posting this to answer that question AND so that if you want to, you can print this off and leave it dangling (innocently) in front of your husband if you would prefer that he stuff your stocking instead of having a friend join in the fun.
Anne is very creative and frugal. She’s put some pretty cool and interesting things in my stocking before including fire starters she made from egg cartons, saw dust and melted wax. I loved these for our fireplace! Yes, you are only limited by your imagination when it comes to stuffing a stocking. If you know a person well enough, you know exactly what she needs or loves.
I happen to know that Anne loves Ghiradelli Chocolate Chips, making that perfect for her stocking. I also gave her homemade vanilla last year and a jar of Homemade Ranch and Homemade Italian Dressing Mixes. Oh so practical. And tasty.
Here are more ideas for a lady’s stocking!
- Pens – because the stub of a crayon she finds in her purse or by the phone just won’t cut it. She needs pens.
- Paper Clips – she’ll never think to buy them for herself and she needs them
- Heavenly Homemakers Downloadable Recipe Cards – if you wait a couple of days, you’ll find all of these on sale!
- Small (and pretty) note pads – because they’re more fun to make lists on than the back of a school math paper
- Kitchen Towels – because all of her other ones are stained or torn…or in the hamper
- Lotion Bars from MadeOn – this stuff works miracles on my dry skin!
- Wooden Spoons and other Kitchen Utensils – so she can bake you something
- Warm Fuzzy Slipper Socks – for the same reason she needs Kitchen Towels, plus her feet are cold
- Flexi-Clip from Lilla Rose – because they’re beautiful and SO easy to use and inexpensive and pretty and…
- Cake Decorating Supplies – because they’re just fun!
Ladies, fill in the gaps by leaving comments of suggested stocking stuffers you’d have fun finding in YOUR stocking Christmas morning!
Hair ties/bands/clips/whatever. They’re always getting lost. Chapstick (love it when it’s tinted)… Razors. A small bottle of that “expensive” (Nexxus…I just really love the smell, lol) shampoo/conditioner I normally hate to splurge on. We’re a new pack of underwear in the stocking kind of family too.
Rubber stamps! Making note cards is fun and practical.
ink pads –the kids got ahold of the other ones.
chocolate –a woman needs chocolate, and not just to bake with!
special cocoa packets if she’s not into making it herself
coupons for time out, mani /pedis, spa days (even the ones at home that equals time in a bubble bath!)
seed packets for planning a flower or herb garden
a new book to read
Chicken Poop Lip Junk..no I am not kidding! I LOVE this stuff (chapstick) It’s natural (no real poop…) :)and has lovely lavender oil which makes it double as aromatherapy…I am giving some to all my relatives this year, I’ve already gotten many of them hooked on it! The “outdoor” variety has orange oil in it, so those that don’t care for lavender….also, vanilla sugar is making a debut! Hmmmm…essential oils would be nice as I make my own laundry soap & shampoo and changing up the scent every now and then is nice. Dish cloths, an oven mit, an apron…for the same reason as kitchen towels. ;)
Chocolate, of course. Sometimes my husband puts a bottle of Izze soda in mine. It’s fruit juice soda and it’s sooo good! Any kind of tiny crafting supply — last year I got a staple-less stapler! Paper punches, bottles of glitter, fancy pens or markers… stuff like that.
Sachets for her dresser drawers – homemade or not. Coupons for a dozen cookies once a month – that she doesn’t have to share! Herbal teas. Foot cream! Is there ever such a thing as too much foot cream?! I think not! Some kind of delicious smelling hand cream, also.
I just wanted to say that if I want my husband to read something, I have to put it in the Throne Room.
LOL! I leave articles I want him to read, open and laying on the vanity right next to the tiolet. Works every time!
Let’s add cute potholders to that list. Mine turn into rags so fast! How about gloves, too, if you live in cold climate. Also votive candles of different scents, a makeup or coin bag that zips, travel sewing kit and gum for the purse (Spry gum is great!)
I make fire starters with dryer lint (most everyone has this), toilet paper tubes, and wax – I save all my candle nubs, and if you place a candle holder (metal, glass votive holders, even jar candles) in the freezer for a few hours, and leftover wax will usually just pop out!
Melt the wax in a coffee can, or #10 can in a pot of hot water on the stove, add lots of lint, and use a fork (I use a plastic one) to stuff the toilet paper tubes. Lay on paper towels to dry. These will start your fire and burn for about 15-20 minutes.
I was given some made of lint and wax in an egg carton. It works so well! Plus you can cut off just one or more depending on how much you need.
Martha, I have to know more about this. I have had a fire going all day the past 4 days. So I should stuff the toilet paper rolls with dryer lint and pour the melted wax over the lint and let it dry?
Oh my goodness, this is such a clever idea. I don’t have much to contribute, maybe some Tea if she is a tea drinker. Well, I would love Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, cuz they are my weakness. :) and maybe some stationery. As a child, the stocking was always my favorite gift. My mom did such an amazing job. Now, I am trying to carry that on for my kids. The girl is easy peasy, but the 7 yo boy, not so much. lol!
I would say anything for the kitchen, measuring spoons, cups, wooden spoons, heatproof spatulas, toothpicks (for checking doneness)candy thermometer, little clips for chips, etc.
I love Chapstick or alternatives too (bought on sale with a coupon).
I so agree on husbands and stockings, married 19 years, never got a stocking. =)
Deb… the BEST thing I’ve found for chips… clothes pins. Or when I run out of those, binder clips or paper clips lol. Those items that are sold as chip clips never seem to work. And clothes pins are CHEAP!
Have you seen the banana clips for bags? Love them, they consist of a round rod, then another rod that fits right over the round one. It blocks air from getting into the bag…love them and have 3 sets of 4
http://www.amazon.com/Seal-A-Bag-8-Pack-Assorted-Banana-Seals/dp/B001FKUIU6
Knitting Needles are good and and pens is a great idea (we’re always nagging about who put ours somewhere else). Pot holders because I cook kinda messy! Maybe even some kitchen gadgets and utensils. Last, I always love to find some of my favorite fruit (oranges if your curious)in the bottom of my stocking and kids can usually remember your fav fruit because your always making them have a bite or two with you.
Pens and notepads or postits! and yes, a 2011 organizer. I can onl;y imagine how fun it is to stock a friend’s, =) Lovely post!
This may sound funny but I know I would love a gift card to trader joe’s or whole foods so I can splurge on some items that I can’t normally fit into our food budget.
I also like the idea of chocolate, garden supplies ( seeds, new gloves, etc)
A mini first aid kit, hair ties, new appointment book (for the new year), season family pass to museums, fitness center, etc.
These are all good ideas. I have heard of taking an index card and listing everything that you would like in your stocking. I might do this, this year since we aren’t exchanging gifts.
I love this list! The things I would add are:
– pretty bookmarks (so much nicer than old library receipts)
– iTunes gift cards for some great workout or worship music
– handkerchiefs
Pretty underwear.. I don’t wear undies that come in bags lol. Nothing wrong w/it.. I just never did it.
Lip balm, chocolate! Kitchen stuff… or stuff for my home office.
We put chapstick, napkins, little purse size kleenex or hankies. Gift cards, Christmas ornaments, wooden spoons, hand lotion, soap, sewing supplies, cookies. Socks, gloves, boxers (guy’s socks).
I have found myself needing some kind of pocket knife that would maybe fit on a keyring instead of a pocket. Is that an odd? Made it forty-eight years without one and suddenly I need one at least two or three times a week!
This just made me think of a ladies’ proper tea the girls in my
family attended a few years ago. Someone had a loose thread on
their shirt and we’re all shuffling for nail clippers in our purses
when my sister in law whips out her Swiss Army Knife! It was
hysterical considering we were having proper tea. We decided it
probably wasn’t etiquette but it sure came in handy! And since
your comment was from last year, did you get a knife then?
I was inspired by Laura’s stocking swap when I read about it last year. So I organized a swap with a few of my friends this year, and now 3 women plus myself are able to bless one another this Christmas!
My friend gardens so I ordered her an orange loofah soap from a homeschooling family who has a soapmaking business here in Virginia. I use their products all over my home, and it’s the only soap or shampoo I will buy for my family. http://www.va-soaps.com/vss2_015.htm
My friend loves tea so I am making a honey hard candy and I am going to dip some spoons in it, so she can use them to sweeten her tea. I’m also giving her a pretty china teacup that I picked up at a a thrift store. I’m also making reusable, washable “swiffer” (the dollar store version) duster heads for her. Add to that some of my favorite recipes and a jar of homemade jam, and her stocking is stuffed!
Would love to hear how you make honey hard candy. Sounds wonderful!
I have not made it yet. But I plan on simply using a hard candy recipe and substituting honey for the corn syrup. It will still be made with white sugar, but the idea is there isn’t very much on the spoon, just enough to lightly sweeten your tea. I will try to remember to let you know if it works out.
It turned out just great! Wonderful honey flavor. I dipped the spoons
and let them dry on buttered parchment. Then I poured the rest on
buttered parchment paper and let it harden. If you break off a piece and
put it in the bottom of your teacup it is the perfect little bit of honey sweetness.
I have to add sunglasses to this list. I get the cheapy $4 or $5 pairs from Marshall’s or Ross and they’ll usually last me a year or so. So helpful!
LOL… glad to hear I’m not the only one who goes thru a pr of sunglasses in a yr!! I get min e off ebay.