When it comes to Christmas gift giving, stockings rank high on our list.
Stocking stuffers are those small gifts that can pack a lot of humor, surprise, even delight.
Many thoughtful gifts can cost as little as $5. Here are some ideas for special treats for everyone on your list.
Xocolatl chocolate bars, starting at $9
Small batches of these craft chocolates are made here locally, and what you taste is the true flavor of the chocolate from different regions — ranging from earthy and nutty to buttery and fruity. Xocolatl, pronounced CHOCK-oh-lattle, also offers chocolate bars infused with other ingredients such as the "Kissed Mermaids" with coconut milk, sea salt, roasted cacao nibs and vanilla; and "Love & Happiness" made with Peruvian cacao beans, raspberries and blood orange. Each hand-wrapped single-origin chocolate bar costs $9; flavor-infused bars are $9.50 a bar (a three-pack is $25). This small company is committed to sustainable practices to produce only fair-trade, organic confections. Krog Street Market, 99 Krog St. NE, Atlanta. 404-604-9642, xocolatlchocolate.com.
Santa Salt, $8
A touch of festivity that can be enjoyed year-round, Beautiful Briny Sea's Santa Salt is no ordinary salt. With red and green hues, this gorgeous, fantastic-tasting Santa Salt combines the fruity, floral heat of deep pink peppercorns with organic rosemary. Instantly jazz up seafood, vegetables, poultry and sauces. Beautiful Briny Sea, founded by Atlanta native and culinary entrepreneur Suzi Sheffield, is an artisan dry-goods company located in Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward neighborhood. Handmade products use locally grown herbs and organic spices. Available online at beautifulbrinysea.com for $8. Also available at stores including the Cook's Warehouse, Wahoo Wine & Provisions, the Dinner Shoppe, Cacao, Greene's Fine Foods and Williams Sonoma stores (note: prices can vary and be higher at retail shops).
Smith & Cult Nailed Lacquer, Glass Souls, $18
This glittery nail polish includes large and small glitter particles. It provides smooth coverage and brilliant shine. Packaged with a bright gold cap, it includes an easy-to-hold brush. It's perfect for a pop of color for New Year's Eve or anytime during the holiday season and beyond. Jet.com.
Little Barn Apothecary Coffee + Mint Exfoliating Body Scrub, $30
This exfoliating body scrub adds the sweet smell of coffee to your morning routine and is a cut above many exfoliating body scrubs. Body scrubs are especially great during winter months when people tend to suffer from dry and itchy skin. Made with ground coffee beans, virgin organic coconut oil, cocoa butter and organic pure cane sugar and blended with Japanese mint oil, this scrub can help leave skin feeling healthy, refreshed and soft. Jet.com.
PowerUp Dart paper airplane, $44.95
Could this be the ultimate high-tech paper airplane? Equipped with Bluetooth Smart technology, the PowerUp Dart is a smartphone-controlled paper airplane that can perform tricks and even take off from the ground. With a crash-resistant design, this paper airplane can soar up to 25 mph. This small-sized gift (the box stretches only about 6 inches) is for people at least age 14. poweruptoys.com/pages/powerup-dart.
Mama Bath + Body Wintergreen Lip Balm, $4.25
There is lip balm and then there is Da Balm. This soothing lip balm is full of moisturizing butters and oils, like olive oil and sweet almond oil. Handmade in Atlanta, they come in a variety of scents — lavender, grapefruit, tangerine, and a limited-edition wintergreen that is only available through the end of December. $4.25 apiece. Another good one is Mood Tubes (aromatherapy remedy sticks) with peppermint, lavender and other essential oils for $12 apiece. Compact in size, these power-packed roll-ons combine sweet almond oil with pure essential oils to provide whatever aroma-therapeutic boost you may need throughout the day.
Buy online at loveyourmama.com or at one of their two Atlanta locations: 112 N. Avondale Road in Avondale Estates and Krog Street Market shop, 99 Krog St., Atlanta.
Soiled Dove perfume oil, $21, and other finds at Coco + Mischa
Spruce up your stocking stuffers this year with unique finds from Coco + Mischa. Located in Ponce City Market, this shop offers vintage clothing, handmade jewelry and accessories, and other beautiful items for the home and body — including the Soiled Dove perfume oils in a variety of scents such as jasmine, vanilla and coconut. Packaged in a gorgeous, sturdy paper tube. This and other finds are only available in-store. But it’s worth a visit, and Ponce City Market (675 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta) offers several other shops and boutiques for some great finds for stocking stuffers.
NASA-themed Apollo 11 Backpack Clips, $4.95
Got school backpacks in the house? Adorn them with NASA-themed Apollo 11 Foam Astronaut or Orion Space Capsule Foam Backpack Clips for just under $5. With the 50th anniversary of man landing on the moon next year, kids will be inspired to learn about space exploration feats way back when. Remind them that their wireless headphones started with NASA astronauts needing to communicate hands-free. Other gifts include tangle-free toy parachutes and robotic toys. aeromaxtoys.com.
To find this specific product, type in “Foam Astronaut Squeeze Toy” in the search bar at the top of the website.
Nanopresso portable espresso machine, $64.90
This portable hand-powered espresso machine is a great gift for your loved ones who go camping, travel or otherwise love a good cup of coffee on the go. At only 6 inches and weighing less than 1 pound, it's tiny enough to fit in a stocking — plus it comes in festive red (also yellow, black and orange). Nanopresso's unique design allows you to simply add espresso and hot water, turn and pump to create cafe-quality espresso on the go. wacaco.com/pages/nanopresso.
Waka instant coffee, $10.99
This quality instant coffee — Waka Coffee — tastes like the real thing, but it's fast like instant. The coffee is packed in single-serve, eco-friendly little packets that are good for taking on a hike, a camping trip, or to the office. They're even good to keep on hand at home. This company donates 4 percent of the sale price of each Waka Coffee box to charity to support projects bringing clean drinking water to 26 countries around the world. A box of eight packets retails for $10.99. wakacoffee.com.
About the Author
