So I was out with a handful of my married girlfriends a few weeks ago and the subject of gifting came up during our dinner conversation. We all basically went around the table telling hilarious tales of gifts our spouses have bestowed upon us for various occasions. The majority of us are married to men who have a hard time in the “gift department”. I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say one friend’s husband gifted her a bike for her anniversary by printing out an image of a bike he thought she’d like and then telling her to go buy it. Ummmmm…….that’s not exactly how you give a gift; am I right ladies?! 😉
One of the bunch of us just so happens to be married to that urban legend of a man who writes long heartfelt messages in cards and orchestrates treasure hunts for her to find her gifts. #theydoexist We all joked about how this man should be giving lessons to the rest of our husbands. It’s with that in mind that I came up with the idea for this post.
Coming from my own experiences in 16 years of marriage and combining it with my years of working retail around the holidays, I think many husbands struggle in particular with how to stuff their wives’ Christmas stockings. And it’s kind of a bummer because for most of us ladies the stocking is our favorite part! While Christmas is absolutely not about the gifts, the thought that goes in to selecting items to give to someone you love is what makes us feel special. So ladies, if your husband is in need of a little guidance, feel free to forward this post to him with a loving emoticon. 😉
Dearest Husbands,
Stocking stuffers need not be expensive. They should not all come from the same store. Multiples are frowned upon, unless we’re talking about various shades of nail polish or lip gloss. I don’t know any wives that want to receive a stocking filled with nothing but candy canes. Sorry, but no. The goal here is thoughtfulness and variety. Keep those two words in mind while your shopping for stuffers, and I promise you’ll be golden. But if you need more specifics……….
Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Women
(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,11,12)
- Fuzzy socks tend to make great stuffers that she’ll get lots of use out of over the winter months. These warm winter socks pictured above are a prime example of what makes a great stocking stuffer as they combine usefulness with personality!
- This time of year most cosmetic companies put lip gloss gift sets together which take all the guess work out for you. If your lady is not a big make-up gal, think about a nice hand cream, body soap or bath bomb.
- Gifting is one way to show your wife that you’re paying attention. Is there a television show she’s really into? A book series she loves? A movie she quotes all the time? What are “her things”? Star Wars? Gilmore Girls? What is she into? Finding a stocking stuffer like a bracelet, necklace or key chain that has something to do with “her thing” will score you some major points. (One year my hub put a Mother of Dragons key chain in my stocking, and it was my favorite thing. like ever.)
- Earrings make great stuffers. Really any kind of jewelry is great for a stocking. Just be sure to choose something that fits her style.
-  Sunglasses are good. Most women like to have a few different pairs.
- Nice luggage tags are great stocking stuffers for anyone who travels a bunch.
- Wine corks, cheese spreaders and drink stirrers make fun stuffers for the wife who likes to entertain. The Target dollar spot tends to have great hostess gifts this time of year!
- Cute kitchen towels work for ladies that are home decor crazed. Anthropologie, Target, World Market and H&M always have a cute selection. Look for styles that will match your home decor.
- Winter wear like hats and scarves take up stocking space 😉 and are usually crowd pleasers.
-  A small, but stylish umbrella makes a good stocking stuffer. Umbrellas are typically one of those items you don’t really think about until you need one, so receiving one as a gift comes in handy. Just make sure it’s cute, not boring and overly practical. 😉
-  Is there a color she seems slightly crazy about lately? It makes a woman feel good to receive things that let her know you’re paying attention. Whether it be a pair of gloves, socks or a coin purse in whatever seems to be her color crush at the moment it will let her know you noticed.
-  Stuffers need not be practical, but more so fun and cute. Think about the little things that will make her happy……like her favorite candy or something frivolous like a tassel or pom pom she can add to her purse.
Thoughtfulness Goes a Long Way
More than anything, stocking stuffers are a chance to have a little fun on Christmas morning. The items you stuff can be totally silly; so long as they show you spent a little time thinking about it and you gave it your best effort. What makes a stocking “good” has nothing to do with price, but everything to do with thought. So shop around. The Target dollar spot, World Market, Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s are all good places to find fun stuffers your wife will love! And if you still need help – ask her best friend! But absolutely do not go to the gas station on December 24th and buy a 10 pack of gum and call it a day. I’m just saying. You may not want to start Christmas morning out in that way. 😉
I am a lucky girl in this department. Married 30+ to a wonderful hubby, he is also a great gift giver! I have to be very careful about mentioning something I like (whether it is something I really want or not) because he will go out and buy it. He listens (and remembers) and also comes up with good ideas on his own. He loves to put an umbrella in my stocking! LOL