# Help me fill my wife's Christmas stocking! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 12, 2011, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960 "2011-12-12T21:52:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960/21 "2011-12-13T04:08:52Z")
Deodorant (her brand, of course!) A new toothbrush (get two if you plan on stealing it) A box of Jelly Belly jelly beans Every girl loves candy bracelets and [necklaces](http://www.groovycandies.com/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=1797&idcategory=77)! ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960/22 "2011-12-13T04:25:00Z")
I love teeny little indulgences that I seldom or never buy for myself: single packages of candies or cookies, tiny cute nail polishes, hair accessories, that sort of thing. And this time of year, really good lip balms and hand creams are great. A love note would be treasured. ---
**Author:** ![RedWood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f08c70/32.png) [@RedWood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedWood)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960/23 "2011-12-13T05:24:51Z")
> [@missinformation](#): > > An orange at the toe, naturally! šŸ™‚ A chocolate orange at the toe! (CAUTION! Do not light Fire in fireplace!) When I was doing stockings for adults, Iā€™d include tangerines and pecans/walnuts in the shell. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960/24 "2011-12-13T05:27:51Z")
A ball of string and a miniature torchā€¦both absolutely useless until that ONE time you desperately need them. Oh, and a magnifying glass too. šŸ˜› ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960/25 "2011-12-13T07:00:53Z")
So many good ideas above, but here are a few things Iā€™d be pleased to find in my stocking that I donā€™t think have been mentioned yet (apologies if Iā€™m repeating anything - Iā€™m reading in substandard lighting conditions): A 2012 calendar small enough to keep in my purse A book of Sudoko puzzles Exotic flavors of breath mints (preferably sugarless) An unusual kitchen tool (a mini spatula, funny cookie cutter shape, etc.) Individual tissue packs in fun colors or with cute designs ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960/26 "2011-12-13T07:33:29Z")
They are a little expensive, but so much worth the priceā€¦[Buckeyballs](http://www.getbuckyballs.com/)! My mom gave some to my husband and I for our wedding anniversary (because my mom is just that kind of person!) and since then several in-laws, friends and random acquaintances have purchased some. They are so much fun to play with! Also because this is how my mom thinks: ever since we were kids, our Christmas stockings included a couple of pairs of colourful socks and some new underwear, usually with fun patterns. For some reason, we never ate the oranges, so somewhere along the line my mom changed it up for bizarre seasonal fruit for my sister and I and a salami for my brother (and, now, my husband and brother-in-law). Youā€™d think there would be a hilarious story behind this, but, no, itā€™s really just something random she started to replace the oranges. ---
**Author:** ![BeaMyra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@BeaMyra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeaMyra)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960/27 "2011-12-13T07:33:49Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > ā€¦The trouble is that weā€™ve been doing this for so many years itā€™s getting a little stale. I always end up looking in the same aisles in the same stores year after year and a certain sameness has set in that I want to break out of this time. I hate to say this, but I think you should end the tradition. At least for awhile. Why not suggest a new tradition to your wife. If you donā€™t like it, you can always go back. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960/28 "2011-12-13T14:55:23Z")
How about a mini-calendar? A jump rope? Gloves? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960/29 "2011-12-13T15:16:03Z")
If you have a Trader Joeā€™s near you, they have great stocking stuffer type candies. Also Think Geek is great for stocking stuffer type uh, stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960/30 "2011-12-13T16:01:40Z")
> [@BeaMyra](#): > > I hate to say this, but I think you should end the tradition. At least for awhile. Why not suggest a new tradition to your wife. If you donā€™t like it, you can always go back. A few times weā€™ve had a quick ā€œDo you still want to do stockings this year?ā€ conversation, and the answer is always yes. Even if there are no surprises in there, we open the stockings over a bottle of champagne and enjoy the ritual. ā€œStaleā€ may have been too strong a word; itā€™s still a fun thing for us, but I want to shake it up a little this year. In case anyoneā€™s keeping track, hereā€™s what I have so far: - Sudoku Book - Nora Roberts novel - Package of assorted color gel pens - Bag of Ghirardelli mint dark chocolate squares - Burtā€™s Bees lip balm/cuticle cream 2-pack (Last night I found this in Staples, of all places, and remembered **Sattua** ā€™s idea) And thanks to all of you, I have a bunch of other fun stuff to look for! I appreciate everybodyā€™s input and I hope other people are getting help from this thread as well! ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960/31 "2011-12-13T16:30:41Z")
What about special champagne flutes for Christmas morning? put one in the top of each stocking. Old fashioned candies, exotic spices [HomePage | Penzeys](http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/shophome.html) Sample size packs of exotics dried fruits and yummy spiced nuts: [http://www.nutsonline.com/search?q=sample+packs](http://www.nutsonline.com/search?q=sample+packs) Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960/32 "2011-12-14T01:05:32Z")
What about a money box? This might not work for you but I have a money box and put all my gold coins into it at the end of the day. When itā€™s full I spend it on something frivolous. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960/33 "2011-12-14T02:47:24Z")
\*\*\*\*Put in a tin of cinnamon, because you want to spice things up a bit. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960/34 "2011-12-14T03:06:41Z")
Go find a candy or gum that she would remember from childhood. This year, I walked into a fancy food emporium and found tiny maple sugar candies. Perfectly sized for stuffing stockings. Drug stores are great for trinket-y stuff and, if one is around, you can always rely on Spencer Gifts. Target always has a supply of Hello Kitty crap, like fake fingernails or sparkly eye shadow. Even better, Target carries Hello Kitty duct tape along with a couple of other patterns (Duck brand). Every woman needs her own tape measure. One of mine has a flower pattern on it so no guy will walk off with it. How about a letter opener, mini stapler or other desk item. Funky ink color pens are good too. Go to Office Max, Staples or JoAnne and take a look around. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960/35 "2011-12-14T16:08:28Z")
Vibrators. Theyā€™re the gift that keeps on giving. And youā€™re already drinking champagne, no reason not to make the morning extra merry. ::waggles eyebrows :: A pack of those tiny Moleskine notebooks for her purse. Theyā€™re the shit for making notes or lists or doodling while youā€™re out and about. Also any properly filled stocking has at minimum these things in it : an orange and one other piece of fruit, some nuts, some candy, and some sort of toy. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960/36 "2011-12-14T16:11:34Z")
Edible hibiscus flowers: [http://www.thinkgeek.com/caffeine/wacky-edibles/c0ce/](http://www.thinkgeek.com/caffeine/wacky-edibles/c0ce/) Add to the champagne. ---
**Author:** ![Mooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooch)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960/37 "2011-12-14T19:38:00Z")
A bunch of glowsticks! ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960/38 "2011-12-15T00:14:24Z")
A subscription to Birchbox with a note that youā€™ve decided to give her 12 stocking stuffers for the coming year. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960/39 "2011-12-15T04:02:45Z")
> [@](#): > > They are a little expensive, but so much worth the priceā€¦[Buckeyballs](http://www.getbuckyballs.com/)! Some years ago, I gave my father a magnetic sculpture toy, called a crdl, which was much the same thing. Everyone who came over played with that thing. That was probably my most cost-effective gift ever. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Violaceous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Miss\_Violaceous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Violaceous)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960/40 "2011-12-18T15:35:02Z")
OPI nail polish is the number one thing I want in my stocking this year (that I wonā€™t getā€¦ my husband is impervious to hints.) If you donā€™t know what colors to get, first look at her current stash, then at her most commonly-worn outfits for ideas. Iā€™m not much for nail polish most of the time, but I prefer the good stuff when I do use it. For my husbandā€™s stocking this year, I have a couple of Groupons that Iā€™m going to print out, then fold into Christmas-themed origami. Edited to add: try some nice tea, and maybe some of those interlocking shape puzzle things? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fill-my-wifes-christmas-stocking/605960.md?page=3)