Stockings are kind of a funny thing when it comes to traditions. Growing up, stockings were where all the treasures were–money and ski passes. And chocolate. But for other people, that’s where they get their underwear and toothbrushes (not that those things aren’t treasures, just treasures of a different kind…)
I love filling up stockings with little things that are weird to wrap, things that are kind of goofy to give as presents but things that they really want.
When it comes to my 7-year-old daughter, she is constantly swiping my little treasures–washi tape and binder clips and marker pens. She’s to an age where she can handle all that stuff, but it’s also stuff I’m not super likely to get her just because. So today, I’m sharing the things she’s getting in her stocking this Christmas.
1. Washi Tape. I have quite a stash, most of which I’ve acquired through Pick Your Plum (if you’re not familiar with their site, they sell different items every day, so you just check back every day and hope they have washi tape) and Etsy. And I always find her sneaking off with it. I use it for hanging up greeting cards, kids’ art work, wrapping presents, decorating stuff (yes, I realize that’s super specific), taping shut packages of goodies, etc. She does not use it for any of these things, but she reallyreallyreally wants mine. This particular pack is about $16 for a pack of 6, which is a pretty good price. But keep your eyes out at the Target Dollar Spot, Pick Tour Plum, etc. because there are always cute new ones popping up.
2. EOS Lip Balm. There’s something to be said for the shape of this lip gloss and the super cute colors and fantastic flavors. I can’t keep any of my kids out of this stuff, so they’re all getting their own this year. My dogs also would love nothing more than their own stash, but I’m pretty sure they’d die if they ever got one in their slobbery jaws. These are $2.99 from Target.
3. Beanie Babies. Yep. The old-school ones. I have a handful from the glory days and my husband has a little gray cat that all of my kids fight endlessly over. She loves these way more than the big-eyed Beanie Boos that they still sell. Plus, they have, like, 20 different styles of cats, so if your kid has crazy cat lady tendencies, you could always give it a test run with Beanie Baby cats. Or dogs. Or otters. They’re still easy to find brand-new on Ebay and Amazon, not for the millions of dollars we thought we’d make back in the day, but for very affordable modern-day prices. That’s either a good things or a bad thing based on the Beanie Baby investments you made back in 1997 (see the video below…)
4. Jelly Beadz. I bought a package of these for my job at church (don’t ask…I still haven’t used them in that capacity, and I don’t know how I will, but I know it will be epic) she was obsessed. Obsessed. Actually, all my kids were–I have to keep these hidden. A little teaspoon of these absorbs tons of water and you wind up with cups and cups of gelatinous beads. So for Christmas, I bequeath unto her her own package of Jelly Beadz, no strings attached.
5. Binder Clips. I’m such a sucker for cute binder clips. It’s really bad because I don’t ever use the cute ones, I use the big, ugly black ones and save the cute ones, which kind of defeats the purpose of cute binder clips, but whatever. I often find really cute ones at Target, but I really love these ones. My daughter goes through binder clips like candy (um, she has books to bind. And single sheets of paper), so she’s getting her own collection of fun ones.
6. PaperMate Flair Marker Pens. These are my all-time favorite pens. Or markers. Marker pens. I have a jar of them in every color and then another jar of black ones and I guard them with the vigilance of a post-partum bear. When I let my kids use them, it’s the biggest treat  (yeah, I know how that sounds; I’m a mean mom), so hopefully this is the gift that keeps on giving.
We’ll be sharing more gift guides leading up to Christmas! That’s assuming you’re like me and you have 0% (or maybe slightly more) of your holiday shopping done. Until then, what are your little girls loving this year?
I’d never heard of Jelly Beadz before, what a great idea. Going on the list, thanks!
My niece is getting a hello kitty gingerbread house
I scored a 5 pack of those EOS lip things at Costco yesterday for $11! I’d been eying them for months but your recommendation was the first one I’d seen. They are great fun with their little twist off lids and smell so good. I always forget to reapply lip stuff throughout the day, but these are so cute I just set one out on my desk and have been using it all morning. I’m determined to take care of my lips this winter and I think these may be the ticket. Thanks!
I love this list! Can we have a bonus Scoop day early next week so that you can do the husband version of stocking stuffer ideas in time for me to get them?!
I have to say, I laughed about those pens because I teach one day a week and if I’m in a room with those pens I always use them to write the teacher a note or whatever. They are so fun!
I would love those pens and lip balm in my stocking!
I totally get you on the marker sharing thing… that’s me too 🙂
Great stuff here, thanks!
I’m 26 and I love all of these! Weird to link my husband to it for gift ideas? Bahahaha.
Great ideas! My daughter is 5 but would love all of those!!
I’ve not heard of these Jelly beadz either, but they look very cool. My daughter has Down syndrome and loves that sensory sort of stuff. Where do you get them???. We gave Beanie babies to the kids at our Ward Christmas party, they were a huge hit! Love those pens too.
Hi, RitaMarie! Just follow the link where I’m talking about the JellyBeadz and you can order some from there! 🙂 I’ve never seen them in actual stores… 🙂
Thank you Kate. I’m sorry I did not clue into that part of your comments:(. Thanks for taking time to answer.
My daughter, 10, loves webkinz. Then she uses the code online to create her webkinz world. Her stocking will be sporting one this year.
Those are the best pens ever. I use them at school and also guard them!!!
Would someone please tell me the purpose of the water beads? This old gramma has never heard of them. (However, my granddaughter probably knows all about them.)
Thanks,
Sheila
They just look/feel cool–my kids hide stuff in them, use measuring cups/spoons with them, my daughter gets her Polly Pockets and plays with them in the beads. Kind of like a tub full of marbles, only the marbles are squishy.
🙂 Thank you
i would love all of these things (except the beanie babies) in my stocking this year!
Great ideas! Our daughter loves these scratch thingies…a fresh batch will be thrilling! http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Bookmark-Scratch-Party/dp/B009B7M3MG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418324135&sr=8-1&keywords=scratch+bookmarks&pebp=1418324133175
My 4 year old loves anything princess or my little pony!
My 7 year old daughter is a craft nut. She is doing a special art project for school so she is getting some crafty stuff as well.
These are super awesome things and don’t tell your daughter but I just threw out a bunch of those beads because they were driving me NUTS! 🙂
My daughter is 9 and she loves all things books, so new books, a book mark timer, and a reading light that clips onto books or stands freely.
I have 5 daughters ages 3-12 and they would love everything on this list. I’m pretty sure my 12-year-old needs those pens.
Anyone have ideas for a 15-year-old boy? He’s my hardest to shop for.
Also, I used Jelly Beadz in a seminary lesson with a quote from President Benson (“Becoming Christlike is a lifetime pursuit and very often involves growth and change that is slow, almost imperceptible.”). I put the dry beads in a mason jar at the beginning of class and added water, then we checked on their growth and change throughout the class. We talked about how keeping covenants adds drops of water to keep the beads (us) “enlarged.” That’s pretty simplified, but the kids LOVED it and they totally got it. I don’t know what age you are teaching, but the beads can be a great object lesson. Have fun with them! (and my kids like to play with them, too. We put them in my giant tupperware bowl and it entertains them for a long time!)
My girls are getting mini nail polishes, hand sanitizer from b&bw, and a new ornament for the tree
I have an 8 year old daughter and she would love every one of those things you mentioned! She is apparently a kindred spirit to your daughter…including being a washi tape snatcher 🙂
We do stockings for St Nick (I think it’s a midwestern thing) in early December and I put a child sized infinity scarf in her stocking and she is OBSESSED with it! She wore it 5 days straight and almost starting crying when my husband innocently pointed out some food that was on it and mentioned that it would have to be washed.
I can already feel myself getting obsessed with those marker pens! Where have they been all my life?
We love those jelly beadz around here. My boys can play with them for a long time.
My daughter is ten and would love all of these. Her favorite store is Staples, although she “loves the smell of a good craft store”, LOL. I’m on the hunt; thanks for the suggestions!
I’m getting my 8 yr old daughter these Gel pens ( http://www.amazon.com/Sakura-38176-10-Piece-Assorted-Moonlight/dp/B000GZOCA8 )which are supposedly the best. I’m also getting her a pad of black paper I found at Hobby Lobby. These pens should show up really well on the black paper. I think she will love it.
I collect stuff from the Target dollar spot starting a few months before Christmas for stocking stuffers. My 5 year old girl is getting her own little lotion, some craft stuff, mittens, and fuzzy socks just like Mom always gets in her stocking.
My 3 year old niece loves anything Frozen. She also loves any type of princess dolls, and art supplies.
Most of your stocking tips for little girls would work for 28-year-old girls too…I’m jealous! Some of those things (like the binder clips) will be going in my mom’s stocking, as I’ve just been reminded it’s my job to fill it. I hear you on the mama-bear guarding of the pens, I have a collection of Papermate Flair pens and it’s a BIG deal when I let my fifth grade students use them!
“I guard them with the vigilance of a post-partum bear.” Bahahahaha!