Friday, December 20, 2013

Miller Time Friday: Stuff that Stocking!


Stocking stuffing is serious business to me.  I learned at the knees of my mother, who did not believe in a sensible stocking...

No, she (and I!) was firmly in the camp that believes that shampoo is not what one wants to see on Christmas morning.

I do recognize that my desire for the fun and frivolous and quirky puts me in the minority camp, though I read with interest last night that the British Royal Family delight in giving each other funny or odd gifts and I have become increasingly certain that my daughter is supposed to marry Harry and that I am supposed to become part of "THE FIRM".  I did meet Charles once and had a (very) brief conversation with him, and I can imagine him still pining away for me to be his in-law all these years later...

you can't see, but it's me on the screen back there...
You can read all about my future Christmases here.

In the meantime, I will continue to get ready, and for me that involves a good stocking.  What do I include in my stockings?  Glad you asked!

  • candy, preferably chocolate and preferably filled with liqueurs
  • A Terry's chocolate orange (oh wait, this isn't all about me, is it?)
  • British Magazines!  Oh how I love them!  France magazine is lovely as well! 
  • Toys, trinkets, funny bits and bobs

One thing that has been in all of our stockings for the last few years are the cheeky finger puppets sold at our local toy/art store by the Unemployed Philosopher's Guild, whose motto is "The unexamined gift is not worth giving", which I wholeheartedly support!
Below you can see some of the finger puppets, which are also conveniently magnetized, on our laundry room fridge:


Hail, Hail, the gang's all here: Nelson Mandela, Dorothy Parker, Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Ernest Hemingway, Herman Melville, Leif Ericsson, Abraham Lincoln, Geronimo, Obama (twice - we were excited Christmas 08!) and Pavlov's dog.  I often wonder what kinds of discussions/arguments/petty jealousies emerge when we are all tucked safely into our beds.  Does Obama go hang with Mandela?  I am sure that Dorothy and Jane are side by side with caustic asides for Leif, who doesn't know any better, and Hemingway is constantly beating his chest and hitting on them.  Meanwhile, Lincoln and Geronimo are having deep conversations with Melville and Shakespeare cannot decide whether it ought to be a comedy or a tragedy and depending on the night in question it easily slides from one to the other.... And all Pavlov's dog wants is supper and there is a constant pool of water in front of the fridge...

Other goodies I would buy in a heartbeat from this site:

The Ministry of Silly Walks watch....  God I want this... I am putting this on the 2014 list right now!


Ministry of Silly Walks


However, if you are feeling particularly depressed these days, things just aren't going your way, I recommend the Sisyphus watch instead:

Sisyphus


How about a Pink Freud tshirt?  I SOOOO see Tabs rocking this one out from her 70s and 80s days in London, Baby!

Pink Freud Shirt


If you are a 60s baby like me, you are going to want to ask Santa for the Shot Into Space shot glass set, commemorating the 6 animal pioneers who did the heavy lifting for the astronauts who came later..

Shot into Space


If it seems tasteless, you just need to come cuddle up with me on the couch...

Sometimes one does need to be practical, and what better to keep track of the pills that the doctor is giving you for your - ahem - ailments than your own Pandora Pillbox?

Pill Box - Pandora's


I've always liked Paper dolls and who wouldn't want to dress your own Freud?

Freudian Finery


You just KNOW that my Freud would always be in the bustier with a Mohawk..

How about a Captain John Locke Picard tshirt?

Captain John Locke Picard


And is the Immanuel Kant finger puppet is waiting for our own mop philosopher to snap it up?

Immanuel Kant


or perhaps she'd want the boxed set?

Great Philosophers


Oh there is something wickedly funny for every taste!

Who doesn't want a Harry Houdini mug where Harry disappears?

Houdini Mug


And since we are all likely to get slippers from old Aunt Mabel, why couldn't they be Freudian slippers?

Freudian Slippers


I would be happy to see a Charles Dickens or Virginia Woolf finger puppet poking out of the top of my stocking...






So this weekend, when you are taking your last look around, don't be shy about dropping that quirky thing into your loved one's stocking, that thing that's likely to make them laugh out loud and remember that Christmas is not just for children, it's for cheeky bastards as well.....

Merry Christmas Stocking!
And in honour of this, let's make a cocktail:

Why not put some baileys, some Kahlua and some peppermint schnapps into the stocking and then whip up a batch of

Christmas Cookies!

Recipe
  • 1 ounce peppermint schnapps
  • 1 ounce Kahlua
  • 1 ounce Bailey’s
Combine the ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake thoroughly, then strain the ingredients into a chilled martini glass.

Christmas Cookie cocktail


num, num. num..

How about you - are your stockings all ready to be stuffed?  Have a happy Friday and stay safe out there!

Also - the blog giveaway of allegedly fabulous prizes is still on, and if you want details and want to enter, by all means click here

 

41 comments:

  1. These are superb ideas, you need to start a Christmas stocking service! I used to love delving into my stocking before I plunged into my present pile, it's such a magical memory for me, remembering creeping into the drawing room and seeing the tree lit up and a massive wad of presents all for me me me!

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    1. Tabs, if I didn't have my stocking I would be SO depressed at Christmas - I love it! Yes - I honestly could be a professional stocking stuffer-er! I can go from silly to glam, but don't ask me to put in deodorant!

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    2. I also meant to say that we were separated at birth, I too have finger puppets, a poodle and a brown dog but I just went looking…the buggery burglars whipped my finger bobs! Now that's just below the belt.

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    3. I am going to send you one that will make up for the evil ones!!!! You won't get it till the new year, but it will be worth the wait!!!! Well you should have two so the husband can play, too!

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    4. I saw a lovely "SEA MONKEY ZOO" at a toy store yesterday for you, Tabitha.

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  2. I once gave my son Fart in a Bottle…BIG mistake. He would sneak up on you and open it (I would do the same periodically). We also gave wind up toys to my folks. They were an old man and woman with walkers. This year it is candy and iTunes gift cards and shoe deodorizer.

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  3. Well, my mom was not great at stockings, but she did make EACH of the dolls a new dress for Christmas and would line them up, in their finery, under the tree to greet us Christmas morning. One year she convinced a friend to knit little sweaters for the doll family. The friend got carried away and added little knitted hats.

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    1. Meant to add, entered your lovely giveaway, and am busting with pride over your G&M achievement. What a terrific way to start (almost) the New Year.

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    2. Thanks Fred! I was I was in balmy Florida raising a glass with you right now!

      I love the idea of the new doll dresses and little knit sweaters - that is so wonderful!

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  4. Love the crazy stocking ideas. My parents still make stockings for us "kids" and the grand kids. There is always an orange at the toe just like when they were children and oranges were a luxury. There are usually silly things and sometimes coal. Once I got coal shaped gum but luckily it was blueberry flavored. There is usually re-gifting when one of us will get the same item every year. Underwear has made an appearance as we are that kind of family. The best part about the stocking is my dad's contribution of a large check every year. He is determined to give away all of his cash to us before he passes. We are all hoping he runs out of money long before he runs out of days.

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  5. We don't do Xmas stocking here! I love the spirit you put in there Wendy!

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    1. I know that many families and cultures have different traditions - is there a special tradition where you are Steph?

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  6. Wendy you have turned me right around, my stocking have been so BORING these last couple of years. Yes I put shampoo in them, it's terrible. This year I'm going to go for FUN. You saved me just in time as I was going to go the the drugstore today for that stuff, I will have to change my shopping destination. I wonder if I could find those puppets! I must have Kant!!

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    1. They say once you stop believing in Santa you start getting socks and underwear.

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    2. Dani - you made me laugh out loud! You really do need Kant! I cannot imagine there is not some funky shop that sells that stuff in Kitchener - independent bookstores and other shops have them I think..

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  7. We might need to give you a Freud intervention lol!! That's a lot of Freud! Those slippers are hilarious. The shotglasses! I am ashamed to be drawn to them, they are a bit disturbing (and impractical for me), although I like that someone is at least commemorating their contribution (even though they had no choice in it!!). The disappearing Houdini mug is funny and I like that running man watch a lot too! I'm not great at stockings. I always make sure to give something funny for Christmas, but I don't always get that done in the stockings. One stocking gift I am giving is a barrel of monkeys, remember those? Also giving balloon animal/sword making kits. I could use some fun last-minute (i.e. can find in stores) stocking ideas, though. I would have to order online/catalog to find any of the things you suggested, it's too late to shop early :) !

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    1. I love a barrel of monkeys!!! Yours sound great and sorry for being late on this - just thought of my stockings this a.m.!

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    2. I didn't mean that you should have posted sooner! I just wish we had a store that carried fun things like these :) My own fault for not shopping sooner!

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  8. If shipping to Canada wasn't so difficult (as I learned trying to send off my giveaways), you'd be getting a stocking full of chocolates, finger puppets and that silly watch!

    Not sure why but I've not been full of good spirits of late and your post brought a smile, maybe that drink that sounds pretty darned yummy will send me full blast to good cheer.

    I LOVE the Freudian slippers!

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    1. The Freudian Slippers are over the top fun! I am hoping you have some time off over the holidays to recharge and that you had a good visit with your dad!

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  9. Maybe I should bring my lonely little Emily Dickinson finger puppet over to play with yours. She looks sad and lonely all by herself on the filing cabinet. Although wasn't she a recluse? Maybe it wouldn't be a good holiday idea for her.

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  10. Love all the finger puppets! DH and I are eating in tonight so I am trying your champagne chicken recipe.

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  11. Gorgeous and inventive stocking stuffers by all - I want the silly watch (And I never usually wear watches...) This year as with last we're doing just the one secret santa gift, bit o a relief actuals.

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    1. Oh good for you - doubt that would fly chez wmm, but you never know!

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  12. Doing everyone's stocking (and my own!) is my favourite Christmas thing - there has to be chocolate money at the toe end, and funny spectacles, a toothbrush and some Christmas knickers!! Always quirky and funny, never expensive or serious - I love your ideas, we think along the same lines!

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    1. I love the chocolate money - that's supposed to be good luck, is it not???? hmmm... still time for chocolate money...

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  13. Obama twins! lol I love the Freud doll.

    Wendy -- can you drop the link to the post where you talked about certain children's books as good reminders for adults. Something along those lines...TIA!

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    1. Hi Gigi!

      http://onecantgetoverthehabit.blogspot.ca/2013/11/the-magic-of-childrens-books.html

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  14. Oh how I love those puppets!! We don't do the stocking tradition this way. We actually do stockings for St Nick's day, and ignore them on Christmas. But, my family dies a funny gift tradition. We choose names after Christmas for the next year, so we can always be on the lookout. So much fun!

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  15. I bought those finger puppets a couple of years ago for a friend of mine who had just finished his PhD in philosophy. He became a assistant prof after graduation, and actually used the puppets a couple of times in teaching sessions. I was proud. :)

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    1. That is awesome!!! I may have to start writing and filming:

      Wendy's Puppetpiece Theatre!

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