I have been trying to come up with some little stocking stuffer types of things lately. Just little things that fill up a small amount of space… Things that take the place of yesteryear’s oranges and nuts…. Things that could actually be fun to get, rather than simply added into the nut bowl or the fruit drawer in the refrigerator.
I found these little gadget/things called Tangles last year that my (grown) son enjoys keeping by his computer. I think that they are ideal for people who fidget… people who just can’t seem to keep their hands from moving. (I probably could benefit from having some of these Tangles by my television chair… Instead, I cross stitch while watching television. I simply can’t seem to stay still!)
Another idea came to me the other day while going through a box of things my (grown) daughter no longer needs… She had a copy of Almost Perfect Crimes by Hy Conrad. It is a book of "Mini-Mysteries for You to Solve." I am not sure for what age the mysteries are intended, but I found myself trying to solve a few, and I now have the book by my bedside… so that I can solve more! (I just looked up Hy Conrad and found that he has several Mini-Mystery books, some which are definitely intended for children… Kid’s Whodunits: Catch the Clues!)
I am still trying to come up with ideas for small gifts… but am sort of at a standstill. Do any of you have really good "stocking stuffer" types of ideas for any age group? If so, please send me a comment…
Wakar says
How about Book Darts? They wouldn’t work for small children but I used to give them to my book club members every year and everyone loved them. They are great for marking lots of passages in the same book as well as just keeping you place. They have a web site at bookdarts.com. Wakar
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks for a great idea!
I looked up the Book Darts to see what they are…. and found this…
My daughter has done a lot of research papers with a lot of different book sources, and these Book Darts look like something she could have used! I remember buying her lots and lots of the brightly colored half inch wide Post Its… And I mean "lots and lots"…
Jan says
This year I added FlipKlips to stockings. I have one too and it’s fabulous for reading while eating lunch, or whenever you want a book kept open. Here’s the website:
http://www.flipklip.com
Amazon also sells it
I also add fast food coupons like Subway (always welcome for my college age kids). Necessities that always seem to get lost or misplaced are good stocking stuffers and include lip balm, small hand sanitizer, those stretch gloves you can pick up at Target for around $1, nail clippers, Crest spin toothbrushes, etc. Blockbuster gift cards, Starbucks gift card, car wash coupon, nail polish remover pads, Tide To Go stick (stain remover), small lotions/shower gels you can buy at Bath & Body Works are always a hit too. Personalized can cozies. Small flip notepads I found at B&N this year are going in my kids stockings this year.
And of course, candy 🙂
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Jan,
Those are great stocking stuffer ideas! Thanks for posting them!