*What’s in my Christmas Stocking?

Everyone does Christmas differently, and one of the toughest things about being married is choosing which family traditions to keep, and which ones to toss.  When I found out that Sunny and his family never had Christmas Stockings I was stunned and a little gutted as it’s probably my favourite part of Christmas!  As kids, my brother and I shared a bedroom wall so whoever woke up first on Christmas morning would knock (/hammer down) the wall to wake the other and then we’d head straight to my Mum and Dad’s bedroom with our stockings.  We’d take it in turns dunking for gifts until there was a pile of wrapping paper in the middle of the bed and four empty stockings.

So if you’ve never done the whole Christmas Stocking thing (or have a nagging wife like me who’s insisting on keeping the tradition…!), here are a few tips on what to put inside 🙂

Something to Drink

Tea, Coffee and miniatures make ideal stocking fillers – especially if you can find a festive blend for that first Christmas cup.  I’m already a big fan of Teapigs’ Darjeeling Earl Grey blend, so I’m looking forward to trying this Spiced Winter Red Tea on Christmas morning.

Something to Relax

For me there’s no gift better than the promise of peace and quiet for a good ole pamper-sesh, so I always tend to get a couple of toiletries and beauty products in my stocking; ones you can smell before you’ve even unwrapped them.  They fuel me through those dark and gloomy January nights.

Something Warm

Socks, scarves, hats, hand warmers are just the right size to wrap and stuff in a stocking.  I’m always losing my gloves (if you see one waving at you from a park railing then it’s probably one of mine) so I’ll never say no to a new pair!  These Grey Cashmere ones are from Woolovers; they’re soft and also nice and long on the wrist so there’ll be no up-the-sleeve draughts!

Something to Scoff

Chocolate coins, chocolate snowmen, tubes of smarties… The first thing I eat on Christmas day has usually come from my stocking and that usually means that it’s chocolate.  This Green & Blacks Miniature Collection could be shared around several stockings – but, then you could keep them all for yourself…

Something to Read

You wouldn’t think it, but magazines make great stocking fillers; they’re cheap and easily rolled (usually!) and wrapped.  Perfect for flicking through while you enjoy your Christmas breakfast or wait for the turkey to cook.

Something Silly!

My Mum is the Queen of silly gifts.  We’ve had lottery tickets and scratch cards wrapped up in our stockings in the past, and a stocking wouldn’t be a stocking in our family if it didn’t have a satsuma rolling around in the toe!

What little gifts do you always love finding in your stocking? 🙂

*A great big thank you to Woolovers for sending me such a lovely early Christmas surprise!