Stockings or no stockings? That’s the question.
People are deeply rooted in traditon – do they have stockings, what do you put in them, and when do you open them.
We usually have a few standard goodies in each stocking:
- Chocolate Gold Coins
- Gummy Bears
- Tooth Brushes
- Playing Cards
- Thank-you Notes
Yes. Thank you notes. These are suppose to inspire the kids to actually write the notes (it happens about 50% of the time…)
Here is how I get ready for the stockings:
I have a Ziploc bag with each person’s name on it. As I gather up little treats for them, I wrap them and keep them in their own Ziploc. When it comes time to fill the individual stockings, all I do is dump the content of each bag into the appropriate stocking.
You’re Own Stocking
After the first couple of years of marriage Roger noticed that I didn’t have anything in my stocking (it really didn’t bother me, promise…) So our third Christmas he went to Bath and Body and loaded up (I got a dozen hand sanitizers. No, I wasn’t offended…) But I still buy myself a little treat to put in my own stocking. Nothing extravagant, but just a little something I wouldn’t normally buy for myself.
At the last event I spoke at, I had a rush of women come up to my booktable and get the My Husband is a Hottie Shirt. I normally sell quite a few of the shirts, but this was unusual…. I finally asked one of the ladies what was up and she explained that her whole table decided to purchase the shirts to put in their own stockings – a gift for her, a gift for him. Genius.
If you tell me in the comments what the best part of the Christmas Project has been for you, I will put you in a drawing for your own T-shirt to stuff your stocking with.
The winner will be randomly chosen.
Both my boys are under the age of 5 but my oldest is starting to read and write so I think my favorite addition to the stockings so far is the Thank You cards. They are the most under-rated item when it comes to building relationships. I love to give and receive thank you cards so thank you for mentioning it and I will definitely be looking for some little boy thank you cards this year for their stockings!
Santa fills the kids’ stockings! He’s so cool! And my husband and I fill each other’s. I keep brown paper lunch bags (one for each family member) on a shelf in the top of my closet to drop small goodies in. No one has ever even noticed them or asked about them!
I love the project! It helps keep me on task and I reminds me of things I’ve been putting off!
This one is my favorite! I love wrapping presents and putting them under the tree. But my all time favorite is the stocking. It seems to me people put more practical thought in stocking stuffers. I’m a yarn person. I crochet & knit. I have found my favorite gifts in my stocking. Tapistry needles, craft scissors, crochet hooks, cool looking buttons, ect…
I love the idea of getting and being more organized at this time of year. For me, the best part so far has been yesterday’s post for single moms.
I’m getting started late with The Christmas Project, and I love the binder idea! No more hunting all over for things that I want or need to remember to create the special family holiday I desire. I gave up sending Christmas cards several years ago in lieu of a New Year’s greeting and family photo sent to our closest friends and family members, some years! And I highly recommend keeping your “elf” supplies organized all year round; I have an upright plastic container for my rolls of wrapping paper, a plastic tote for bows, a flat basket for ribbon, and a zippered bag for gift bags and tissue paper.
My husband is pretty good about putting *something* in my stocking, even if it is 4 rubber spatulas and mini boxes of Frosted Flakes. 🙂 The fact that he puts out the effort is what counts. I usually add some little things that I pick up when I’m shopping for everyone else but I don’t set out to buy things for my own stocking.
I know we got things in our stockings as kids, but I couldn’t tell you what anything was other than some of the chocolate I remember putting in my dads and my mom’s stockings. One year, I spent Christmas in Germany working with some missionaries renovating an old farmhouse that would soon be their home. They had asked us to bring presents for the 5 of us that would be there over Christmas. But I didn’t really expect anything from them. Boy was I surprised when I walked upstairs Christmas morning to find not only our presents that we had put around the tree a couple days earlier, but presents they had gotten for us as well as stockings stuffed with little gifts for each of us. That has become my favorite Christmas. I didn’t expect anything special, and was blown away by the love of these missionaries.
I have been a martyr mom for the past five years, never having anything in my stocking while everyone else oohs, and aahs about everything they have received. I have really been struggling with some things this year and especially during this holiday season and the Lord is really using your words to inspire me. Thank you!
I heard of two girlfriends that swapped stockings and each filled each others. That way they had items in their stockings and things that they knew they would love.
I LOVE THIS IDEA!!!!
I guess I’ve been a matyr mom, but, never thought to fill it myself so might do that:-)
I also love the idea of ziploc bags for each family member!
I love the idea of the ziplocs with each family members name on it… I am so doing this! I have just loved all of the small things that add up to being organized and not overwhelmed! Thank you so much for so many great trips!
I was just thinking about starting my stocking/filling this year! I am so glad you posted it. We have always done that with my parents when I was growing up, but apparently it is not a tradition for my husband, because we have not done it since we were married. I am definitely going to do it this year though (i may have to fill my own stocking) but thanks for the post! This would be my favorite post for the Christmas section. It was just what I was needing.
I Love all of your ideas, and the fact that you put something in your own stocking, so I’m planning to do it!!
Great ideas! I have been reading along, some of it I had done before you posted, and some I still haven’t gotten to, or may never do, but it is good to have the reminders. I love everything about Christmas so I have loved all the projects
Love it Kathi! I’m getting out my ziploc bags right now! And love the idea of Thank You cards. I’ve heard of people who don’t let their children take the gift out of the box until the thank you is written. I’ve never been able to go that far, but maybe the notes in their stockings will be a start! Especially if I can get some really cute ones that they will want to write out! Thanks!
I’m usually so overwhelmed with Christmas plans and this year everything is so relaxed and enjoyable thanks to you! I love the idea of putting thank you cards in the kids’ stockings. I tell my kids it takes less time for them to write a thank you note than it did for the person to buy, wrap, and send them the gift. I also like the idea of buying myself something to put in my stocking. My kids always wonder why I never get anything. lol
Love all of your ideas, and <3 the fact that you put something in your own stocking, so do I 😉
Thank you for all the help. I love todays permission to put things in my own stocking 🙂
I love all the organization that has been put to all the Christmas chaos. I think the holiday binder is most helpful because it provides a central place where I can do all of my thinking and write lists to get the clutter outside of my brain.
I am usually well organized so many of these projects are easily being checked off the list but I am totally loving and appreciating your advice on making out a big calendar page and posting all the doings on the frig. This is enabling my entire family to prepare for what is coming and to be a part of helping out. The calendar making is somehow relieving to me, shifting the Christmas actions to becoming a family responsibility and not just mine!
I have so appreciated your “Christmas Project” days. Ideas like ordering my stamps online so I don’t have to stand in line at the post office (and thereby put off mailing cards because I don’t want to go there!) and adding thank you cards to my children’s stockings – simple ideas, but genius at the same time. You have helped me take my already somewhat organized plan and helped to kick it up a notch – or three. Thanks!
I so agree with dtwalter. My stocking is always an overlook by Santa…lol! I need to start balancing out and ‘love on’ myself in that area, the t-shirt (size xxl) would be a wonderful surprise this year! So am enjoying the Christmas Project!! Keep it coming!
Oh lady am I loving this project. I had an old Christmas binder from a different organizing website that for me, never worked. THIS is all practical, do-able stuff that I’ve (mostly) been able to keep up with! This stocking tip is GENIUS! So simple…really a “duh” moment for me. I love the binder (I’m a sucker for office supplies & making things look organized) and now having a copy of my Christmas recipes all in one place. And as for my stocking…it did bother me when mine was consistently empty and everyone had a dang chocolate orange except for me. Now I buy one for myself & put it in there. 🙂