Countdown To Christmas: 50+ Stocking Stuffer Ideas For Women

Here are 50+ stocking stuffer ideas for women. 

It really depends on what your GF/Mum/Sister/Daughter/Friend is into but these are just some basic ideas.

1. Nail polish.

2. Magazine of something they'd be interested in (Cosmo, Vogue, Women's Health etc).

3. Lip balm.

4. Chocolate (preferably lots!).

5. Cute notepads or post-its. 

6. A pretty pen.

7. Nail files.

8. Hair ties.

9. Bobby pins or hair clips.

10. Travel size shampoo and/or conditioner.

11. Hand cream.

12. The latest CD that she's been wanting (anything from the top 10 section is sure to be a hit).

13. Fluffy bed/home socks.

14. A cell phone case (lots of cool iPhone ones out there).

15. Toothbrush/toothpaste/floss (we all need it).

16. Cotton makeup/toner rounds (I use SO many of these).

17. Cheap and cheerful jewellery.

18. Wet makeup wipes.

19. Body wash.

20. Travel size or roll on perfumes. 

21. Deodorant. 

22. Hand sanitiser.

23. Cute packet of tissues.

24. A keyring.

25. A diary for the coming year.

26. Small value gift cards ie. Starbucks, Subway.

27. A cute Christmas decoration for her tree.

28. A book by her favourite author.

29. Tank tops or singlets in white or black (staple wardrobe items).

30. A cute mug for her tea/coffee (she'll think of you everytime she uses it).

31. A scented candle.

32. A calendar for the year ahead.

33. Prepaid phone cards.

34. Headphones for iPod/MP3.

35. Sunglasses (southern hemisphere).

36. Mittens or a beanie (northern hemisphere).

37. One use hair/face masks.

38. Cotton buds/tips.

39. Cosmetic bag.

40. Wallet/purse.

41. Cell phone car charger.

42. Wrapped lollies/candy.

43. Shaving razor or refill cartridges.

44. Hair brush/comb.

45. Pencil case (student).

46. Small photo frames.

47. Small board games (like travel scrabble).

48. A cute shower cap.

49. Tweezers.

50. More chocolate (you can't go wrong!).

The following ideas are themed, so it's handy to know what they like.

Artistic: Pencils, pastels, paints, brushes, art pads.

Crafty: Ribbons, stamps, coloured pens, stickers, kraft paper.

Cook: Wooden utensils, tea towels, recipe book, oven mitts, specialty pasta etc.

Gardener: Mini tools (shovel, fork etc.), packet of seeds, gloves, hand scrub and cream.

Fitness: Protein bars, single protein shakes, workout gear (tank tops), socks, drink bottle.

Girly: Gel eye pads, toe separators, foot file, bath soak, lip gloss.

Party girl: Cocktail shaker, mini liquor bottles, shot glasses, Scholl party feet shoe inserts.

Hope this has given you many ideas for what to buy your loved woman this Christmas. Leave a comment below with your stocking suggestions.

- Lizy xx

Recipe: Super Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

A few months ago, while browsing Pinterest, I came across this recipe (and blog) by the amazing Chelsea of Two Twenty One.

After procrastinating reading for an hour or so I decided to give this recipe a whirl. I'd been on the lookout for a real American cookie recipe that would translate well for us Kiwis! First of all it contains real ingredients. I know you Americans like to use packet things that we've never heard of so this was a welcome surprise.

These cookies also fit in well with my Countdown to Christmas series. I know lots of you like to do a little baking around this time and are on the lookout for recipes of things to make. The good thing about this recipe is that it makes about 40 cookies. Chelsea didn't mention that on her blog and I got a big surprise when four trays later I was still balling this dough up! You can easily make one batch go the distance (4 packaged gifts).

To make sure they come out nice and round, just ball them up and put them on the tray. Don't flatten them as they have enough 'wet' ingredients in them to do that themselves.

If you want to make sure that people will eat them, use good quality chocolate!

Did anyone notice that they look like boobie cookies? I probably shouldn't have put that extra chocolate chip on top. I didn't think that they would cook like that (haha)!

Chelsea says to cook them for 8-9 mins on 350 degrees (F). I cooked them for about 12 minutes on 175 degrees (C) and they turned out fine, still very soft.

Click on the recipe below to go to Chelsea's blog (where she has a printable copy of the recipe), and please follow her. She's hilarious and I'm sure we'd be friends if we lived in the same hemisphere!

Happy baking!

What's your favourite Christmas recipe?

- Lizy

Countdown To Christmas: O Christmas Tree

Welcome to my Countdown to Christmas series, where I'll be sharing with you how I'm preparing for Christmas in our house.

What better way to start than by sharing our Christmas tree?!

As we live in a rental, I like to make the non-permanent features of our house stand out. For the past two years our tree has been my pride and joy. I sneak it out a little earlier than I probably should, but because we always travel back to our hometown for Christmas,  I feel justified enjoying it a little bit longer. As you can see I have a classic/traditional aesthetic with a modern twist (the white tree). You won't find any crazy colours or decorations around here. Just beautiful things I've collected or made over the years. This year the tree is decked out in white, gold and silver. I am a believer in silver and gold together, especially on this tree. I'd love a big green tree with the traditional red and gold decorations but we are making do with what we've got this year. For a 22-year-old I think I have a lovely collection. I attribute this to Boxing Day 50%+ off sales where I'd buy pretty things and squirrel them away for the day I'd move out and have my own place. It definitely paid off in the long run, last year when I went to decorate our just-bought tree I could open 10+ containers of BRAND NEW decorations. It felt amazing! 

Of course working in a large department store means that visits to the Christmas Shop on my breaks are frequent and I'll often pop home with a sparkly gem or two. When I start decorating my tree, I put the lights on first. I plug them in also so that I can see where the gaps are. Then I place my bead garlands on (you'd pop your tinsel on at this stage too). I generally don't like the look of tinsel on trees (unless it's done really well) so I just avoid it altogether. Then I go crazy with the decorations! I pop the generic baubles on first to bulk it out and then add my special ones later. Here are some close ups of a few of my favourite decorations. 

Chris and I decided that we'd buy a special decoration every year together. This year we chose this beautiful, glass heart-shaped ornament with gold glitter.

This sparkly ballet slipper was one of those break-time purchases. I couldn't pass it up because it was just so pretty. I didn't even do ballet as a child!

This Maple leaf is part of a set of three. There is also an Oak leaf and I'm not quite sure what the other leaf is but they are beautiful! Sparkly and gold, just how I like them.

This white ball with the silver beads was a Boxing Day steal! It too is part of a three piece set. There is also a star and a drop sort of shape. I think I paid about a dollar for each.

I made a few of these paper 'flower' decorations last year and fixed them to some presents. A couple were left over so I put them on our tree. I love the pearl in the centre.

I made this Joyeux Noel decoration last year. It's not the best sewing job, but I cross-stitched it myself and I'm proud of it. I learned French for many years and am so in love with France it's not funny! I'll get there one day.

The glass ball in the front with the glitter swirls is the decoration Chris and I chose last year. So pretty.

This ornament is a little hard to see but its a clear church/cathedral with silver glitter. I love it as a visual reminder of why we celebrate Christmas. Jesus is the reason for the season.

So there you have it! 

I'll be back soon with a picture of our tree at night and how I wrapped our presents this year. 

Leave me some links to your tree if you like. I love to look at other Christmas trees.

- Lizy xx

Home By Lizy

Welcome to my blog!

I'm Lizy, a 22-year-old girl in love with anything to do with the home (except weeding!).

I have another blog where I focus on my beauty obsession. You can check it out here.

I created this blog as I had so many ideas about crafting, baking and home-making etc. that I didn't want to talk about on my beauty blog.

Coming up, I'll be posting about my favourite time of the year, Christmas, and then we'll see where the new year takes us. 

Enjoy my blog and thanks for stopping by!

- Lizy xx