Christmas Stockings for 20-somethings

[Judy]

My kids will be 22 and 25 this Christmas holiday.  In the past I've always filled up their Christmas stockings with candy goodies.  They love getting the stocking filled with "goodies," but both are turning away from candy.  What does everybody else fill their stockings with for their kids?

[Judy]

Kim, WONDERFUL ideas.  My daughter is 25, my son will be 22 at Christmas (both single).  My daughter just moved away from the "family home" in CA to live in Georgia, my son is still living with us.  I've just got to make sure that whatever is in my daughter's stocking is something that she can get on the plane back "home" while at the same time amusing my CA-bound son (they're very competitive, so everything needs to be "equal"... ahh the parents' curse). 

[Judy]

Well, actually, your avatar is what I'd consider a no-brainer on my end.  My son bought an English bully this last year and, yes, made him a part of our immediate family.  I'm sure if I filled his stocking at least partially with "Bud" gifts, he'd get a kick out of it and find it useful.  And... my daughter just had her birthday and with her birthday money bought a dog from her local shelter.  I'm sure both kids would love to get dog toys instead of chocholate. 

[Judy]

Oh, gad, this bulldog's favorite toy is tuperware.  I think anything on that end is what he'll enjoy.

 

[Judy]

This bully still likes to gut things, unfortunately.  The only way he gets ahold of tuperware is when I feed my little Chihuahua the end of the container (she gets special homemade food) and I don't pick up the tuperware fast enough, well, it ends up being a "Bud" toy.  He gets such a kick out of it that I figure it's a cheap enough toy for him.  Yours looks like a Frenchie. from the pic (my next! dog).

[Judy]

Now that I took a closer look at your pic, not a Frenchie.  But it doesn't look like "Bud" either, who is an English.  What type is your Bully?

[Janet]

I always wanted a bulldog.  I don't think there's a dog with more character.  Your dog is beautiful.  :)

[Judy]

Janet, Bud really is a sweet dog with a huge personality.  He bulldozes his way through life knocking everybody down along the way and stepping on feet, but is a fraidy-cat at noises and I swear he's afraid of the dark.  Which is why I'd probably go with a Frenchie if it were my choice, not as much muscle and bulk.  Plus, Frenchies are soooo cute.

Kim, Our other dogs are already on that food because of allergy issues.  His breeder had him on Iams, I think, but I insisted that food end, if you know what I mean.  It did not agree with him in the least, especially as a non-house-trained puppy.

 

[Delicia Struss]

Hi, Judy.  My daughter loves the Chick-Fil-A gift cards (or McDonald's) b/c they come with calendars, too, that have coupons every month.  That's kind of the age where they like some practical stuff with their candy too.  I stick cute socks in my daughter's, deodorant, hand sanitizer, etc. I bet your son would like socks, razors, etc. I still make Easter baskets for my kids (and nieces and nephews). If my grandmother were still alive, she'd still make me one!

[Judy]

Delicia, you're right, socks, etc., are great stuffers.  I stopped the Easter baskets a year or so ago and instead just gave them money.  I hate where it's going, just giving $$, but at least they can buy what they want/need.  Their major Christmas gift for the last couple years has been cash, and while, yes, they love it, they do love their stocking too, which is why I don't want to give up that one. 

[Marge Teilhaber (TILE hobber)]

Just received The Container Store's "Stocking Stuffers" catalog today.  Real cute stuff!     find it here:  http://www.containerstore.com/shop/giftWrapWonderland/stockingStuffers

[Judy]

Cute stuff, Marge.  Looking at that stuff also gave me the idea of camping nicknacks for my son, who is getting into camping in a huge way.  Thanks.

[Rosalie DeLeonardis]

I used to give my dog the same food, she's a Dashund (spelling?), but one day I decided to give her a treat by changing it to Duck and Sweet Potato.  Big mistake.  She gained a lot of weight off of one bag and it maybe just a coincidence, but her health declined right after that.  She can no longer walk up and down the stairs and she's almost blind.