2013 advent

Here you go!!! This is this years advent calendar! Along with this list we have scripture readings every day and this year we are adding in 25 random acts of kindness to do this year!!!!  Because of the timing of the year some of them have already happened. All that is a blog post for AFTER Christmas! Merry Christmas y'all and don't forget, it's not all about the gifts under the tree! The true gift came long, long ago!

Cheap, candy-LESS Christmas stocking ideas



 

I've had a few people ask me about cheap and practical stocking ideas for children. I figured it was easier to just do a post about it. Here's some things you should know:

• the pictures below are the actual items that will be in my children's stockings this year (so please don't tell them!!!!)
• my children love simple things--I love this about them
• we don't emphasize Santa- we are not "anti-Santa". This is just not the focus of our home.  We do stockings but we don't talk about him coming down the chimney or anything like that. Therefore, they are not disappointed that nothing huge or glamorous was in the stocking they received.
• we teach our children to be grateful for even the smallest things-I don't know that they would be disappointed even if it were coal in there!!!
• Lastly, I think it's very important to really know your children.  Know what they like and dislike. You will notice that my 3 year old child's stocking is almost identical to my 5 year old child's. This is because they are best friends. They are interested in having the same things so that they can do them together, but the items bought cater to each girl's person interests too. (For example, the characters or colors may vary even though they are the same type of item!)

NOTHING in these stockings cost more than $5. Most of that is regular price, but there are a couple things that I used coupons for.

 
 

• coloring books
• markers
• crayons
• small puzzles
• lip gloss
• nail polish
• cute socks
• fun silverware (I got Landon Cars)
• necklace or earrings
• notebooks (I found ours in the dollar section at Michael's with the girls initials on them...no fight over who's is who's!)
• bubble tape
• fruit snacks
• fun hairbrushes
• stickers
• sunglasses
• character cups
• movies (look at Target, they have a $5 section)
• Band-Aids with their favorite characters
• small packages of trail mix or crackers
• ink pens (the ones I found were 6 color pens in the dollar spot at target)
• bath color drops (Crayola's are awesome)
• bubble bath
• character bath soaps
• character wash cloths
• small balls
• bubbles
• children's work books (you'd be surprised!)
• dress up jewelry
• t-shirt
• small stuffed animal
• books
• tokens or game cards to their favorite game place (Chuck E Cheese, Andy Alligator's, Celebration Station)

Those are just a few that I'm either currently using or have used before.  I'd love your feedback of what you would add to the list!