<p>My H’s favorite stocking stuffer a couple years ago was a Swiss Army Knife about the size of a credit card. This one - <a href=“Original Swiss Army Knives from Swissarmy.com | Victorinox (USA)”>Original Swiss Army Knives from Swissarmy.com | Victorinox (USA); - but cheaper at Target. He’s in favor of anything that means less bulk in his pockets.</p>
<p>Over30 - the runners’ water bottle carrier/pouch is called the “Amphipod Hydraform Handheld Lite Pocket”. I got it at REI. There are other things by Amphipod that look interesting, like a waist pack with two very small water bottles, but I thought this handheld one was more likely to be a success with my son.</p>
<p>Morrismm - For your daughters, what about Hue leggings or tights? They come in many styles, colors, and textures. My daughter got some last year and has dropped a big hint for more this year.</p>
<p>For your New York professional daughter, maybe a business card case?</p>
<p>We had these stockings made YEARS ago for our family of four - [Specialties</a> in Wool, knitted Christmas stockings, ornaments](<a href=“http://www.specialtiesinwool.com/index.html]Specialties”>http://www.specialtiesinwool.com/index.html). When older D married, I did an Internet search to see if I could find something similar for the new son-in-law and was so happy to find the original company was still in business. They are made by a group of ladies all over Vermont who split up the orders. We wrapped it up and gave it to him before the holidays. We told him that although it was a gift for him, it needed to stay at our house. He was a little confused until he opened it, but I will never forget the look on his face - priceless. He said it was his favorite Christmas gift!</p>
<p>We have a fireplace and hang the stocking on the screen. If they are too heavy when filled, I just prop them up again the screen Christmas eve. Stocking are always dug into after the gifts under the tree have been opened. When the kids were young it was a way to ease the let down of being finished with opening the gifts under the tree. I do wrap all the gifts in the stockings with the bits and pieces of Christmas paper left over from wrapping the larger gifts.</p>
<p>My kids are in college and graduate school now and I still do stockings - do one for DH too. I will do them until the day I die or am unable to complete the task. It gives me a lot of joy to do it for them and I don’t plan to ever stop. My own mother quit giving birthday and Christmas gifts to her four children when she considered us adults and I have always found that sad. Not that I particularly want anything from her, just the idea that someone who loves you goes to the trouble to find a gift they think you need or will just enjoy.</p>
<p>Sometimes my H finds a thing or two to put in my stocking - sometimes he doesn’t. I don’t really care, but my Ds did. As they have become older, they always make sure they find little “somethings” and I find them in the stocking Christmas morning. It warms my heart to see them be so caring.</p>
<p>Here are somethings I have found for the stockings this year - </p>
<p>-“beginner” chopsticks (they are hinged at one end)
-bottle opener that plays older D’s new graduate school’s fight song
(although she is not much of a drinker or a sports fan, she will like it)
-book of 20 stamps
-Sherpa lined earmuffs - wrap around the back of your head (found 1/2 price last January)
-Scrabble Slam card game - looked like fun
-Scarf for the son-in-law (rolled up) - also found 1/2 price last January
-Post-It pads
-Those colorful post it “flags” to use when reading textbooks</p>
<p>Thank you all for the ideas - stockings are a big part of Christmas here and these ideas will help make the stockings fresh this year.</p>
<p>We always wrap stocking presents - makes the process stretch out but that is half the fun. Stockings are felt and fragile at this point, so while they are hung during the run up to Christmas, they are laid on the floor in front of the fireplace when full. We also put things that don’t quite fit under the appropriate stocking. For example, we almost always give a paperback book to everyone and, while I could jam it in there, seems better not to…</p>
<p>Lifesaver books are a tradition and are always there. DS loves mustard so he always gets a jar of some fancy mustard. Jelly Beans also make an annual appearance.</p>
<p>I should be looking for stocking stuffers on Amazon throughout the year when I need to spend a few more dollars to qualify for free shipping.</p>
<p>Thanks calreader. Good ideas.</p>
<p>Glad to know I’m not the only one who puts deodorant in the stockings! I’ve also put in the hot chocolate mixes/specialty tea bags etc. Does anyone have a recipe for a homemade mix of peppermint hot chocolate? Have an assortment of tins that might serve as nice containers.</p>
<p>This year I vow to wrap my stocking stuffers in advance so I am NOT scrambling and making a mess on Christmas Eve, but rather sitting by the fire with a nice glass of wine watching the tree lights twinkle!</p>
<p>Love this thread and love stockings! I do some practical - I tune gift cards, clinique face sun screen for the D’s in college with no $$, tools, shoe polish, chapstick, etc. but I also like some funny gifts -a butt/face bar of soap, a stuffed white blood cell (for the pre-med), a wine cork with a woman’s legs sticking up, fun desk ornaments, etc.</p>