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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Stocking ideas, in laws in 70s. Small

22 replies

Caspianberg · 26/09/2023 07:25

We have the in laws visiting us this year for Christmas. We are abroad so it’s a 3 week visit.

I am planning on doing them both a little stocking. It’s likely the last Christmas they will visit for a while, and Ds is 3.5 this year so his first Christmas with family and the age to actually get it.

Looking for some ideas.
Ideally:

  • small to travel back with, or something they will use up here
  • Nothing ‘tacky’. They won’t use anyway.
  • They are fairly fit and active still. They travel about a bit, fil goes fishing, mil bakes and swims.

Ideas so far are: small framed picture of Ds. Some of Ds ‘artwork’, chocolate, ???

OP posts:
fourelementary · 26/09/2023 07:27

mini hand cream/ toiletries
a satsuma
a rolled up magazine or crossword puzzle book
borders biscuits
sweets
a keyring with your sons photo

MotherofWhippets81 · 26/09/2023 07:31

For MIL maybe some mini perfumes and a nice nail polish. Lots of baking stuff is small so maybe some nice ready made cake decorations or flavourings.

Book marks.

Small pack of nice chocolates/sweets.

If they drink - miniatures.

Nice tub of hot chocolate.

Bubbleandsqueak22 · 26/09/2023 07:31

Beeswax sandwich wraps
Miniature alcohol
Lip balm
Bath bomb
Small candle in a tin
Rolled up magazine
Bamboo socks
Puzzle book
Nice pens
Drinks coaster
Bath salts
Glasses case
Wine bottle stopper - my FIL collects these https://shop.houseofmarbles.com/product/glass-marble-bottle-stopper/

Dogon · 26/09/2023 07:32

What we put in DM's (nearly 70):
Mints/travel sweets
Scratchcard
Small candle
Toiletries
Socks (just 1 nice pair)

AdaColeman · 26/09/2023 07:55

Any local delicacies such as biscuits or sweets or honey or liqueur

Put together a tin with all the bits & pieces to make flies for FIL

Any nice local products such as soap, small leather item like wallet or card case etc

Pocket diary or notebook

reluctantbrit · 26/09/2023 08:21

Book
any small baking equipment
wallet
phone case
mini toileteries from a brand one up from what they use. Hand cream, body butter, shower gel. Things which last for a couple of days if they do shorter trips.
Small bottle of wine/spirit
anything fishing related
local sweets or biscuits
really nice socks

Original poster
Caspianberg · 26/09/2023 13:04

Thank you!
Small candle definitely adding. Il ask dh what he knows about fishing flies!

OP posts:
Bubbleandsqueak22 · 26/09/2023 13:11

Book mark
Pretty pocket tissues (I found some Emma Bridgewater ones last year)

OMGitsnotgood · 26/09/2023 23:49

If they are with you for a while after Christmas, vouchers for things you will be doing anyway - a meal out or a visit to somewhere.

Something specific to where you are - spices or confectionary.

Magazines or puzzle books

Boiled sweets or mints for their journey home.

Things they can consume while with you: nuts; crisps other snacks; biscuits; hot chocolate/ tea/ coffee; jars of fruits preserved in alcohol

ITSSSSCHRISTMASSS · 27/09/2023 00:01

Where is abroad?

When we lived abroad there were locally sourced goodies I knew were a big hit with my in-laws so it was easy pick.

Other bits I’d go for would be Nanna and Grandad (or what ever you call them) bits, socks, magnets, coasters, chocolate, pens. Bits that won’t overload their cases going home.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 29/09/2023 09:29

Everybody staying in our house on Christmas Eve gets a stocking, regardless of age. But a little one for non-close family!

What I’ve done more than once is buy a nice pair of stretchy socks, and stuff one inside the other as one little present, plus the traditional satsuma, and e.g. small bar of chocolate, nice soap, small hand cream, miniature bottle of liqueur, tin of M&S Extra Strong Mints, pen, small book of crosswords, anything small I think they might like.
It’s amazing what you can stuff into an adult sock!

OMGitsnotgood · 29/09/2023 09:42

@GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER I love that sock idea - will definitely use it if we ever have people with us all day who we don't normally make stockings for.
Also a potential secret santa / token gift idea. Thank you!

Original poster
Caspianberg · 29/09/2023 12:56

Thank you

We have spare stockings already. As we have had friends over a few Christmases ago who we also did one for. Yes everyone in house gets one here.

It’s a snowy Christmas here. So I just thought I might add a decent hot thermos drinking flask (small), so they can bring with us out when with hot chocolate or mulled wine on local walks as dh and I already do.

good news is kindergarten have said their photo session will happen early in November this year so all prints done by Xmas. That’s a scruffy picture of grandson on a key ring/ Magnet sorted

OP posts:
TabbyBeast · 29/09/2023 18:13

We do stockings for our parents and things that have gone down well in the past are:

Mini fridge magnets of fave photos

Dividing up the 3 for £ "selector" packs of chocolate from Hotel Chocolat

8 in one mini screwdriver

Nicer body puff (superdrug spaa range)

And chocolate coins in the bottom of the stocking!

rileynexttime · 29/09/2023 18:56

Earrings?

TotalOverhaul · 29/09/2023 20:11

Really nice walking socks/hat/gloves
Hand cream or lip balm
A book each, if they read
Scented bar soap
A little flask for taking out walking
A jar of honey, chutney or marmalade
Fancy biscuits or nice chocolates
A new sponge bag

love your idea of framed photos of DC and maybe a drawing by DC

waltzingparrot · 29/09/2023 20:22

Speciality tea/coffee

sunights · 25/10/2023 11:45

Edited as I wrote in the wrong post 😬

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