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Christmas

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Original poster

What goes in the ideal stocking?

87 replies

DumbledoresGirl · 02/12/2006 21:05

Help me out here please....

Dh took dd to his work's Christmas party today and so I took the 3 dss shopping. The oldest 2 know the truth about the old man with the red coat and white beard so I thought they could choose stocking fillers for their sister. But we came away with absolutely nothing.

The fundamental trouble is, when I was a child, my parents lavished us with hundreds of silly little toys, knick knacks and trinkets and so I have a tendency to think I should buy that stuff for my children. But dh had a different upbringing and gets really grumpy when I try to buy silly things. I am not sure actually what he thinks should go in the stocking. I do also like to get in some useful things eg last year I did gloves and hats for everyone who needed them, and I always do paper and pens (but the oldest 2 dss never used their pens last year!)

So, come on please. Help a disillusioned Mner. What should I get for the stockings? What is your definitive list of must have items?

OP posts:
Original poster
DumbledoresGirl · 03/12/2006 13:19

Oh, also have a cd for one but not for the other - mine aren't really into pop music (yet). The cd I have bought is Joseph. We like things like that to sing along to in the car. Any other ideas along that line?

OP posts:
BettySpaghetti · 03/12/2006 15:00

DG -Boots had a lot of Simpsons stuff, including those little blocks that you put in water and they expand to reveal a flannel.

Original poster
DumbledoresGirl · 03/12/2006 15:02

Thank you BS. Hopefully going Christmas shopping with dh on Thursday of Friday so I will look in Boots then.

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merrylissiemas · 03/12/2006 15:05

satsuma, apple, i'm putting some little musical instuments in ds's chocolate coins, jelly tots and little wooden train

brazilnuts · 03/12/2006 15:16

Contents of stocking this year is....

Apple... he doesn't do satsumas!
chocolate coins
reindeer who deposits choc raisins
mr wooly (hawkins bazaar)
a rope trick
magic beans
a huge eraser
pretend snow
grow your own dinosaur
lego
hot wheels car
felt pens
drawing pad
book on football

I love doing stockings!

nogoes · 03/12/2006 15:18

Should stocking presents be wrapped or left unwrapped?

brazilnuts · 03/12/2006 15:26

I wrap them but only because he still loves unwrapping things

xmasmummy · 03/12/2006 15:36

i do wrap most of the pressies in their stocking. dont wrap fruit or choc coins or teddy in top

poppiesinalinewithtinsel · 03/12/2006 15:59

I don't do stockings as such . They have one wrapped up present from 'Santa' left at the bottom of the bed and the rest of the presents are downstairs.

I wrap up everything even down to tubes of sweets. So the 'stocking stuff' is all wrapped as proper presents iyswim and left in a bundle on the floor.

Thats what my mum used to do and it took us much longer to unwrap everything and it makes the bundle of presents look bigger .

You can spend a small fortune trying to fill a stocking.

poppiesinalinewithtinsel · 03/12/2006 16:00

unless of course, its a very small stocking

santasaltire · 03/12/2006 16:18

DG - Boots also do a Homer soap on a roap for about 3.9 - 4.99, and it's part of their buy two get third free offer.
I haven't seen Simposons shower gel as such, you can buy biggish bottles shaped like Bart, full of bubble bath, but your DS might be too old for that

Original poster
DumbledoresGirl · 03/12/2006 16:41

Hmmm no, bubble bath wouldn't be much use as we don't have enough hot water (antiquated heating system) for the boys to have baths, hence the showers.

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nightowl · 03/12/2006 17:17

i would like in mine:

a pair of ghd straighteners, thorntons choc and a big fat diamond ring please Santa.

oh, you mean the kids...i dont usually buy stocking fillers, i just wait until i have all the presents in front of me and put the smallest bits in there, usually choc, bubble bath and pound shop rubbish like pens, pencils, little puzzles etc. my kids stockings are the most annoying thing on the earth however, they have singing mice on them...and no, i didnt buy them.

singledadofthree · 03/12/2006 17:18

well.....

nightowl · 03/12/2006 18:12

thats jolly nice of you singledad, offering to by me some ghd straighteners. thanks.

Katherine · 03/12/2006 18:12

Had inspiration while having breakfast this morning - DS will get a jar of straweberry jam, DD1 a jar of chocolate spread and DD2 and jar of crab apple jelly. Well they do love them and the rate they get through them....

Blondilocks · 03/12/2006 18:39

Shiny pennies & chocolate coins (these are traditional to put in in my family!)

DD usually gets an apple & a few potatoes (don't you know that santa puts potatoes in instead of presents if they've been naughty - she had 2 last yr!)

This yr she's got: little lindt chocolate santa & reindeer (from boots, so cute).
pack of nighties
cd rack
cd case for taking them out in the car in
photo album
peg doll kit
stamper set
book
cd
pen set
card making set from woolies

Am sure there are some other things, but can't rememeber.

will probably get a little diary too if I find one

Most of the things are only £2-£3 if that. Also the 3 for 2 gift promotions are quite useful for things like that. I prefer to get things that are useful. Her main present isn't from Father Christmas - he tends to bring little things.

Skribble · 03/12/2006 20:39

Santa leaves small amount of stuff in stocking on bed. All the other presents downstair including big things are from us.

I know of one parent who said everything was from santa, including all the presents from Granny , the child wouldn't even know to thank Granny as all the tags were removed. WTF.

Kids write letters to santa and include big things like bikes or whatever but they are from us.

We all take turns opening the presents under the tree so it lasts for ages anyway. kids act as postie and have to take turns. Oh and we all get dressed and have some toast first too, main reason is so that I don't look too shocking in a old t-shirt I wear as a nightie spoiling the photos and FIL is diabetic.

BaileysMilkshake · 03/12/2006 21:05

DG Not sure how old your DD is but mine is 3. Like you I always got lots of trivial silly toys and belive this is the one oppertunity a year to replensih that sort of stuff for children. MY DH had a different upbringing, but I have been insistent. Plus in my family we always had to wait till after Christmas dinner before opening tree pressents, so stocking were a way of keeping us occupied all morning.

Anyway here goes for some of what DD has and where I got it:

marbles - Hawkins Bazaar
clockwork toys - Hawkins Bazaar
bouncy knot ball - Hawkins Bazaar
shiny pennies - small change
choclate coins - Tesco
tube of chocs - Woolies
plastic jewellery - Claires
toy digger - Tesco
mini dress up doll - Tesco
bubble bath - ToysRUs
bath water squirter - Hawkins Bazaar
make it yourself plastic link belt - Tesco
trinket pot - Claires
possable Dora - Woolies
soft Swiper - ToysRUs
Robot pencil sharpener - Hawkins Bazaar
mini set coloured pencils - Claires
hair slides - E-bay
small reading books - Asda
Activity book - Library
plastic cone and ball catch thing - Hawkins Bazaar
bat and ball attached by elastic - ToysRUs
echo microphone - ToysRUs
fairy dolly - ToysRUs
littlest petshop thing - Co-op toy sale
mini magna doodle - Woolies
water paints - Woolies
bubbles - Tesco
torch - Woolies
chocolate Santa - Woolies
Stuart Little DVD - Woolies
nuts
satsuma

I know that wont be all of it - and yes I have gone over the top. But actually it just fills 1 large carrier bag and I have been shopping for Christmas since July.

My DC2 is due in 6 days and I have alway been concious that DD may feel a bit jealous, left out so wanted to make sure she feels spoilt with a stocking full of goodies!

Original poster
DumbledoresGirl · 03/12/2006 21:07

Baileys - wow that is a list and a half!

Dd is 6 by the way. (Dss are 10, 9 and 3)

At the moment they will all be getting tea tree oil or the equivalent as dd, ds2 and ds3 have all just been discovered to be harbouring headlice!

OP posts:
Original poster
DumbledoresGirl · 03/12/2006 21:09

Sorry, wrong emoticon! Meant

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Skribble · 03/12/2006 21:11

at the tea tree oil.

Baileys list may seem big but ooads of little things there.

My list will probably be as long.

Great how long you can make it last if you split up the packs and wrap each pair of charactor knickers individualy .

BaileysMilkshake · 03/12/2006 21:11

It is a long list I admit - but the most expensive things in it are the Dora and Swiper which were about £4.99 each - but paid for with voucher money left over from other purchases.
Everything else was under £2.

Hope your litle visitors dont stay around til Christmas!! Although very practical present

BaileysMilkshake · 03/12/2006 21:13

Thank you Skribble - I was preparing myself for a roasting from other MN!

But as you say loads of little things. Most stuff actually under £1. Especially from Tesco and Hawkins. Also books buy 1 get 1 free etc.

Gingerbear · 03/12/2006 21:14

My ideal stocking would have some Jo Malone perfume and George Clooney.
For the kids:
chocolate coins
stickers
gel pens
mini books
Polly Pocket
Bits and bobs from Baker Ross