Don’t hate on me for being ahead of the game but I need your most Wild, Fun, Unexpectedly TERRIFIC stocking stuffers/small gifts - under $50 for a range of ages from 4 years to 70!

Question

Tracey Saenz · Answer

Outway socks: My kid loves raccoons, and Outway had some hilarious trashcan-diving sock last year. They have other fun designs too.

Erin · Answer

rainbow suncatcher: I love this little window cling. First of all, so cute. But the best part is it casts rainbows all over your room!

Leah · Answer

Merci Milo: This store is my go to. I live in Colorado but order a haul from them each year because it’s so well sourced and adorbs.

Liz · Answer

USB Rechargeable Book Light: This book light is fabulous! Super compact, a long-lasting battery, 5 brightness settings, and an amber light mode (better for your eyes at night). My kids got them in their Christmas stockings, and they were so nice, I had to get one for myself!

Jessica Menda · Answer

Armenia Paper - Small Box

Ginger · Answer

Cute fruit fly traps

Daniel Day-Louis-Dreyfus · Answer

Tiny Jam from Sidehill Farms Jampler: This was an impulse order because I love the name — what’s cuter than calling a sampler of jams a Jampler?!? Family-owned Sidehill Farms has been selling homemade Vermont jam for 50 years. Their Jampler contains six miniature (1.5 oz/each) jam jars in assorted berry flavors; bigger and smaller jam packs also available. The box, lids and jar covers arrive girded in gingham. Refrigerate jams after opening; until then, toss ‘em in stockings!

Joyo · Answer

Kikkerland Design Inc Wind-ups: These metal windup toys are fun for all ages. I’ve given these to kids and grownups and everyone is tickled by the movement and manual interaction : )

Kacy · Answer

Kodak Charmera: I was gifted this and cherish it so much. Strangers have stopped me to ask about it! Real life Rec league item

blakely · Answer

Cabin Nine 20 Minute Candle Set: Use these candles as a mindful timer for your favorite rituals and activities. It's a gentle, tactile way to hold yourself accountable to do the things you want to do! Especially the pleasurable, enjoyable things like crafting, sewing, baking, stretching, knitting, drawing, reading, writing... all of the things that are (For some reason?) harder to do than the "important" life to-do's.

Some of my fav ways to use these candles are

to read a book

to free-write in my journal

to meditate

to write a substack post when I have writers block

to do a living room tidy up

to call a friend

to stretch (I hate stretching! but if I light the candle, im stretching for 20 minutes!!)

JV · Answer

Studio Arhoj Figurines: I love these lil figurines, they add levity to random places in my house. (The awkwardly tall guy in the middle lives on the shelf in my bathroom vanity 👀)

JV · Answer

My Cheap Honey Mask: It’s a Mānuka face mask, once every couple weeks. The jar from the grocery store costs me $22. I wet my face, I smear a glob, let it sit until it becomes soupy. (I don’t break out or anything after I use it! Is it useful? Maybe no! But try it once and if it’s not right for your face…use the rest in your tea!?)

Jess · Answer

TravelCard Plus iPhone and USB-C charger: These tiny chargers come in a range of cute colors and feel great in the hand. I can get two full phone charges out of mine. If you're giving it as a gift, get it in their favorite color and have it engraved with their name!

Sarah Cooney · Answer

Victorian Spellicans Game - Wonderful Boxed Original Carved Cased Antique Game Spillikins/Pick Up Sticks/Jack Straws

Sarah Cooney · Answer

Roger von Oech's Ball of Whacks: A wildly popular and addictive little thing that is one of the most popular gifts I give. It's essentially thirty blocks that you can arrange in any number of ways. Also a great thing to have around to keep you off your phone!

Catherine Davis · Answer

Torsken Blackcurrant + Raspberry Candy Fish: If you are a Swedish fish lover these are a serious level up! I put them in my son’s xmas stocking and they were gone (with help from Mrs. Claus) before the presents under the tree were opened.

Posey · Answer

mooncat: The prettiest shades that last

Vicky · Answer

Self-Care Gift Set: Perfect for the low-tox beauty lover, this cute set comes with a washcloth, a scrunchy and a headband. It comes in this blue color or off-white.

Ella McMahan · Answer

Tweezerman Pistachio Full Slant Tweezer: I’m a big fan of practical gifts in stockings- these tweezers are the best! Other items I’ve gotten and have been hyped on: nail polish, silk hair ties, skincare products, underwear, Pilates socks, travel size products, an egg timer for boiling eggs, plane headphone Bluetooth connector, fancy soap, gift cards, lip gloss- the opportunities are endless!

amy hagedorn · Answer

Kodak Charmera: My best friend got me one for my birthday and I am obsessed! The photo quality is NOT SO GOOD but the vibes are IMMACULATE!

Sarah Schneider · Answer

A clementine in the toe: Not entirely sure this fits the brief, but our family tradition is a clementine in the toe! It’s fun knowing that when you get to the bottom of everything else there will just be a random lil orange down there. And a great mid-unwrap snack!

JaperMoon · Answer

DISCO LIGHTBULB: A friend mailed this to me out of the blue and it is everything. Impromptu dance party? Turn on the disco lightbulb! I have a lamp that is easy to change out the bulb, and I do it quite frequently. It is really exciting to turn this on when friends come over - like what, you can just have a disco at home?! Yeah you can!

I also have a mini version that plugs into my phone and syncs up to the beat of whatever music I have playing.

I'm telling you, disco lightbulb.

Katie Degraff · Answer

Mini cereal boxes: The kind your parents maybe let you buy if you were going on vacation. Or staying at a hotel. Bonus points if it’s sugary cereal they normally aren’t allowed to eat.

Clara · Answer

Maya Flya crocheted frisbee: Just got this to play with my cat indoors. Honestly, I like it even more than she does.

Clara · Answer

Mini selection boxes from your local chocolatier: Growing up, my parents always got my siblings and me little boxes of chocolates from Serenade Chocolatier. On the west coast, I’d personally opt for See’s (linked).

Clara · Answer

Washi tape: Washi tape is useful while still remaining delightful. Easy to personalize to every recipient’s particular tastes, too.

Clara · Answer

Upcycled Tin Fair Trade Model Cars: Not a toy, so maybe doesn’t work for the very youngest recipients, but I have and love one of these cars. It even has a little tear-shaped trailer that hooks onto the back!

Paloma · Answer

Spirograph Mini Tin: When I was a kid someone gave me a Spirograph kit for my birthday or for Christmas or something. One day it disappeared and I was bummed. Months later I went down to the basement to do laundry and I found my dad hunched over at his work table spirographing like a mad man... so it's fun for all ages.

Janet Wallace · Answer

Fender Blues Deluxe Harmonica: Buy a bunch of harmonicas. Start gifting them for birthdays and holidays. Adults and kids. Hand them out like you're a traveling salesman with only one product and total/absolute conviction in it.

Janet Wallace · Answer

Heritage Musical Spoons: We love these! Have given many gifts of Heritage Musical Spoons!

Janet Wallace · Answer

Schleich Animals on a Windowsill: We have a collection of Schleich animals that live on a low windowsill at our house. Every year, a couple new animals join the bunch (from Santa Claus, they're the perfect stocking stuffer!). Even as my kid has outgrown these, they still arrive annually and still all live on the windowsill. My niece plays with them now, but I'll leave them there even after she outgrows them, just in case a little kid stops by.

Jennifer · Answer

Surprise Balls: Such a fun way to add spontaneity in the Christmas stocking or for a bday gift. Fun for kids mostly 5-8 y/o.

Jennifer · Answer

Chocolate sardines: So fun, so good!

ColdTea · Answer

Avocado Coin Purse: Shockingly realistic at a glance. I got mine from the impeccably-curated Houses & Parties. I think four years old is the perfect age to get the most delight out of this, but it’s been a hit with 40-year-olds too.

Emilie Bienvenew · Answer

Perfect gift for kids : semi precious stones: My go to present for kids between 7 and 12 : semi precious stones !

There's so much of different kinds of them, and kids can spend hours just looking at them, learn their names and where & how they come from - and it's like having a little treasure.

And it opens new doors of activities : visit a mineralogical museum, books on geology, stones hunting on the beach...

I was gifted some at 10, and still remember all my stones, so I love to share down these precious time to the next generation.

pairofgeese · Answer

Clinique Nude Honey: I think it flatters everyone even more than black honey, is moisturising, and always feels like a little treat to be given lippy!