December 3, 2018

Stocking Stuffers – What to Buy & Where to Snag Them

Thanks to Gordmans for sponsoring today's content. All opinions, thoughts, and product selections are my own.

I swear my hang up every year is stocking stuffers. I either spend a million dollars buying things that probably should be gifts or I wait until the last second and am scrambling running to a bunch of stores trying to find something for everyone. Please tell me that I am not the only one that this happens to. If you are in the same boat as I am I have a solution for you. A way that you can spend a lot less on your stockings, still have practical & fun gifts, and buy everything in one place. Sounds like it is too good to be true right? Well babe, it isn’t! Let me dish out all my secrets to you.

Let’s start with a backstory. When I had King I wanted to dress him in Nike, Hurley, Quicksilver, etc. however my budget couldn’t do that. I was talking to my mom about it and she told me that I needed to just shop differently. Go to places that I didn’t expect and that things would be more affordable. I started shopping for King’s clothes soles at Gordmans and still buy over 70% of his clothes there. I often times get asked how I afford to dress him how I do, and the answer is Gordmans hands down. They have name brands for affordable prices. Sometimes I will even find things that are in department stores for full price at the same time at Gordmans for a fraction of the price. Gordmans has had my heart for over four years now as silly as that sounds. I even buy Lettie baby Nike little sweat outfits there now too!

Last year I totally dropped the ball on stockings. I was scrambling last minute buying a bunch of ridiculous things to be able to fill up the stocking… It was bad and I spent a ton of money on things that weren’t good products, things people didn’t want, and things that weren’t practical. This year I set a calendar reminder in my phone for December 1st to remember to look for stocking stuffers. I have been thinking about them for a little bit now and had tried to find somewhere that I could snag good practical items for everyone in our family. I ran to Gordmans one day to grab King some sweats for a sweatshirt my mom bought him and saw that they had so many different things that would work for stocking stuffers so I headed back a few days later and grabbed something for every single person in our family.

 have a few tips & tricks to buying things for stocking that will help you fill them with practical and fun things for you and your littles!

Stocking Stuffers: Tips & Tricks

1 – Start a note in your phone mid-November or early December

When it comes to stocking stuffers there are a few things that I think about early (which is why I have the reminder in my phone) that help me to fill them with things that we really truly need. As we run out of different things like body soap, need new socks, etc. I put a list in my phone. Then when it comes to buying stocking stuffers I know that King needs body soap, my socks have holes in them, etc. and I can buy those things to be fillers in there even though I would have purchased them anyways.

2 – Things don’t have to be expensive

If you shop in the right places & early enough you can find things for good deals. You don’t have to buy a $20 book for their stocking, you can find a cute one that is a few dollars at Gordmans that they will love just as much!

3 – Think outside the box

I feel like at least for me I get stuck in the box of toys, toys, toys when it comes to Christmas. Thinking outside the box to get them things like experiences, a new beanie, gloves for a snowball fight, etc. This helps to not have the dreaded toy clutter in your home and gives them things that they probably need or will use longer than a toy.

4 – Don’t go overboard

This needs to be a note to myself. Giving them too much just overwhelms everyone as cool as it looks in pictures or you feel like a champion because their stocking is overflowing. Buy them some things you know they will love and let the rest be. Don’t force yourself into buying a bunch of things that are going to get tossed aside to have things look full.

5 – Buy things that will last

Paying a little bit more for a toy that is a known brand will go a long way. It will last through multiple littles (generally) and will end up saving you money in the long run. Now, I’m not saying to go buy a ton of name brand things, just think about if the toy needs to last awhile and if it does then go with a name brand.

Would you believe me if I told you that everything pictured here was $202? Crazy right? I truly got so many different things and filled up all of our stockings with things we each truly will want and even snagged King and Zach a couple gifts for Christmas too. I am so excited about the different things that I was able to find. They had everything from baby toys for Lettie girl to craft supplies, books, BBQ sauce kits, etc. I even found these darling plush snowballs that I am excited to start a new tradition with that they will be in the bottom of our stockings every year and we will have a “snowball” fight with them. I think King is going to love it and it will be such a fun tradition. 

I have listed a few of the things that I snagged for our families stockings below this photo to help give you some ideas or a little inspiration on what to snag for your families stockings! I would love to hear what you end up snagging!

A Few Stocking Stuffers for the Family: What stocking stuffers we are getting our family!

Little Lettie Lou:

I wanted toys that can grow with her. I feel like we have plenty of rattles and such from King so I wanted to find things that can be cute in her room now and she can play with as she grows. I also will be putting some snacks in there for her.

The cutest little hippo toy that is on wheels and has poppers inside of it so it makes noise.
Farm book that all the animals make sounds
Snow White doll for her room
Little People Ariel set
Colors Board Book

King Man:

For his stocking, I wanted some toys, but I also wanted some things that he can do that are more practical like books, art supplies, etc.

Melissa & Doug Reusable sticker book, we love these at our house
Hot wheels mini track – he has been asking daily for a hot wheels track!
Dinosaur stamp & paper set
Prank Kit – really it is for Zach to help him with, but he loves to prank people!
Incredibles Book
Black Panther Book
Treats – Gordman’s has all the cute holiday candy even so you don’t have to fight people at the grocery store!

Zach:

I feel like men are the hardest to buy for… I always struggle with Zach but this year I feel like I did so well!

Laser level
BBQ Sauce Kit
Cologne 
Gum – they have the cute tins filled with gum so it fills up the stocking even more!
Treats

Myself:

I always fill my stocking with knick-knacks and wanted things that I actually needed or will really use. I found the best things and I am so excited to have it all on Christmas!

Bath Bombs
Beauty Sponge
NYX Lipgloss
Travel Size Hairspray – The TGI Bedhead is my absolute favorite! It smells sooo good!
Treats

I also snagged a cute little girls sticker book to put up as a gift along with some marker sets of Paw Patrol & Frozen for some neighbors. I grabbed King a dinosaur set that comes with two dinosaurs that makes sounds and it was only $7!