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…
For those of you cozy mystery readers who enjoy “money matters”… the following three authors should be of interest to you. These mystery authors have chosen to give their main characters professions that you wouldn’t ordinarily associate with a cozy mystery sleuth…