Raspberry Peach Champagne Jam

Doesn't this look, and sound, decadent and luxurious? It's raspberry peach champagne jam from Stonewall Kitchen, via the Sur la Table website It would be perfect for a romantic breakfast or brunch for two, on top of french toast, English muffins, croissants, waffles, pancakes.... The product description also notes that it can used as a garnish on ice cream or cheesecake, or even stirred into brownie batter. The jar is 13 oz. and looks simple and elegant at the same time.

What: Raspberry Peach Champagne Jam
Where: Sur la Table website
How much (as of today's post): $7.50 (plus shipping)

Animusic DVDs

It's kind of difficult to explain the Animusic DVDs to anyone who hasn't seen them. I first encountered them at a Christmas party a few years ago, held in a funky warehouse loft apartment. The host was a computer and techno whiz, and he had these DVDs set up to project on the wall, looping over and over for background ambiance. I've since also seen some Animusic on PBS, of all places!

So what is this all about? Basically, both DVDs contain several tracks of computer-generated animated instruments playing different types of music. For instance, a bouncing ball may land on the correct synthesizer keys to plunk out a melody, while in the background some robot percussion instruments keep the beat. Shoot, I knew it was going to be impossible to explain! There's no way a simple description can get across how fascinating and hypnotizing these animations are. They're visually fascinating, and the whole time you're watching them you can't help but think how incredibly clever they are!

There are two volumes for sale on Amazon, Animusic and Animusic, Vol. 2. Even the customer descriptions on Amazon don't really do these justice, but every single customer review as of today is a five-star rating. In any case, these would make terrific stocking stuffers for just about anyone. They're suitable for kids, great for teens or college students, and definitely perfect for computer and science fiction geeks. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't find this fascinating.

What: Animusic DVDs
Where: Amazon or elsewhere
How much (as of today's post): $19.99 (plus shipping)

Porcelain Mice Cheese Markers

Cheese is by far my biggest food vice -- I'd much rather eat cheese than cake and ice cream, or even chocolate. I also like to entertain, so these porcelain mice cheese markers from the Potpourri catalog caught my eye. The set of four comes with a black wipe-off marker so you can write the cheese name on each, then re-use them with different cheeses on another occasion. Each marker is two inches high. The set costs $12.95, although there's a price break to $9.95 if you buy two or more sets.

And just a hint: remember that most cheeses should be allowed to warm up to room temperature before serving. It makes a huge difference in flavor.

What: Porcelain Mice Cheese Markers
Where: Potpourri website
How much (as of today's post): $12.95/set of four (plus shipping)

Pup Cups from Esty Seller "The Lab"

Several of my acquaintances have adopted dogs or puppies recently. With our veritable herd of cats, dogs are currently out of the question for us, but at least I'm able to get my dog fix now and again by visiting friends. Today's Etsy stocking stuffer, perfect for dog lovers, comes from Annie of The Lab shop. These pup cup "sleeves" fit around standard size (15-16 oz.) tin cans, making an eco-friendly holder for pencils, paint brushes, make-up brushes, candy, you name it! Or you can put the sleeve around a glass of the appropriate size and use it for a vase! The result is a holder or vase that looks like it came from an expensive gift shop but that actually costs less than $10.

Each pup cup has a description indicating the type of fabric it's made from. The labs are appliqués that have been cut out by hand and machine-stitched onto the fabric. According to Annie, the edges are "either double folded or have French seams for clean, fray-free edges." I think they're just lovely! And since most dog-related appliqués seem to be of Scotty terriers, it's refreshing to see these labs, which are one of my favorite dog breeds.

Be sure to look through the entire shop, because there's a wide selection of black, yellow, and chocolate labs to choose from. Some are holding flowers in their mouths, others have collars, others are carrying a leash, indicating "please walk me!" There's a wide variety of colors and patterns available, and the shop also has other lab-related merchandise.

What: Pup Cups from Esty Seller "The Lab"
Where: The Lab (an Etsy shop)
How much (as of today's post): $7.00-$9.00 (plus shipping)

Outlet Section of eToys.com

I'm always on the lookout for new sources of good stocking stuffers. Recently I came across the website eToys.com, and was delighted to find an "outlet" section. Even better, once you're in that section, you can sort the (as of today) 1,639 outlet items by lowest price to highest price. Doing so showed me over 50 items for less than $5.00 apiece. To be fair, some of these items are out of stock. Others, however, amd in stock and qualify specifically for free shipping.

One of the cute items I liked was the Fisher Price Jungle Bubble Buddies (zebra or lion) for $4.98, and there was also a Thomas and Friends Jumbo Activity Floor Pad for $4.99. (This last obviously wouldn't be suitable for a stocking stuffer, but it could make a great paired gift with a little Thomas miniature toy in the stocking.) Just over the $5.00 mark, there was a Cabbage Patch Kids Sleepover Party Playset and a Spiderman Movie Figure Paperweight. A site like this is likely to have a rapidly changing selection, so it may pay to check back every so often.

Do you have any favorite bargain websites for stocking stuffers and other small gifts? I'd love to hear about them!

Seahorse Brooch

Today's "luxury Friday" stocking stuffer is this seahorse pin from the Potpourri website. (I got their catalog a few days ago and found some lovely new things in it.) Is this gorgeous or what?! The brooch is 2.5 inches long, and is made of borealis stones and clear Austrian crystals set in metal. I love the bling and the elegantly curled tail!

What: Seahorse Brooch
Where: Potpourri website
How much (as of today's post): $29.95 (plus shipping)

Dorm Life Message Magnets

These "dorm life message magnets" come from the Spoon Sisters website, which I also mentioned in yesterday's post. It's been a few (thousand) years since I went to college, but I remember we all had some kind of message or memo board on our doors to say where we were and when we would be back. These magnets make it easy -- although of course they will only work if there's a metal surface for them to cling to, so do keep that in mind. (It might be possible to pair this gift with something metal that can be hung on a door.) In any case, since college students are often a bit harder than younger ones to find stocking stuffers for, these might be just the thing!

What: Dorm Life Message Magnets
Where: Spoon Sisters website
How much (as of today's post): $6.00 (plus shipping)

Marital Bliss Chocolate Bar

Today's stocking stuffer is the Marital Bliss Chocolate Bar from the Spoon Sisters website. I don't think I need to say another word, because the picture above is worth a thousand words!

What I will say, though, is that I think this chocolate bar is equally funny whether a woman gives it to a man, or a man gives it to a woman! It also makes a great little gift for a bachelorette party. The one drawback is that even though this costs only $5, the shipping for any order up to $20 on the Spoon Sisters website is $6.50. It's kind of hard to justify shipping that costs more than the product! The answer, though, is to shop around the website and see what else they have that catches your fancy, so you can spread the shipping cost over several items. In fact, I'll probably be showcasing more of their products in the next several days, because they have so many things I like!

In the meantime, let the Chocolate Battle of the Sexes begin!

What: Marital Bliss Chocolate Bar
Where: The Spoon Sisters website
How much (as of today's post): $5.00 (plus shipping)

Recycled Cards to Color

Lately I've been exploring the hobby of inkstamping and digital stamping, so I was thrilled to come across this kid-friendly variation that is also eco-friendly! The Stubby Pencil Studio, which has the tagline "Eco Products for Creative Kids", sells recycled cards for kids to color. They have single cards or sets, and I think the valentine cards would be terrific for little ones to color for friends and family. But I was also drawn to the "miscellaneous" cards and sets, because we shouldn't need holidays to send someone we love a card!

My favorite set (no surprise here) was the "Six in Space", which includes an alien, a rocket, a spaceship, a planet, a moon, and a star. I love the bold simple lines, which I think would be perfect for little ones to color. There are many other sets, such as a "Six on the Go" set of vehicles, "Six Little Buddies" (simple animals, shown right), "Six Dinosaurs", and so on. They're all just so appealing! Be sure to click on the various multi-pack sets shown along the left column, or you might miss some!

The cards themselves measure 4.25 by 5.5 inches, so a pack of six should fit in a reasonably sized stocking. This is a great way to encourage your kids to be creative and to retain some communication with family and friends that isn't wired or plugged in! These cards would be especially great for children to send to grandparents who live far away.

What: Recycled Cards to Color
Where: Stubby Pencil Studio
How much (as of today's post): $7.95 for set of six (plus shipping)

Pieces of Nature Matching Games

Because the box dimensions for the Pieces of Nature matching games are 5 by 5 by 1.5 inches (the website doesn't specify the dimensions, but an e-mail to customer service got me a prompt and friendly answer), it may be a tight squeeze to get them into a Christmas stocking, but they're certainly worth the trouble. Each matching game contains 24 animal pairs, and the set is made from soy-based inks on recycled materials. I've shown the polar bears set above left, but you can also choose from pandas, frogs, wolves, and a more general North American wildlife set. The pictures look vivid, and what child (or adult, for that matter!) can resist pandas and polar bears? And matching games also improve memory and visual recognition.

An extra benefit is that these cards will help make children aware of wildlife and the need to protect it before it's too late. Also, purchases go towards funding the organization's conservation activities. Pair that with the eco-friendly materials, and this is a stocking stuffer you can feel good about on all fronts.

What: Pieces of Nature Matching Games
Where: National Wildlife Federation website
How much (as of today's post): $9.99 (plus shipping)

Red Shirt Star Trek Cologne

Next week I will get back to the regularly scheduled program of Etsy stocking stuffers on Sundays, but since I just got back from the science fiction convention I was attending this weekend, here is one more stocking stuffer for science fiction geeks: Red Shirt Star Trek Cologne!

If you know much about Star Trek, you'll know that the unnamed extra character in the red shirt is the one who always gets killed to show just how serious the situation is, but without harming one of the main characters. As the Think Geek website advises the brave men considering wearing this cologne, "That's right, you're probably toast, but at least you'll smell good on the way out." The scent itself is described as having notes of "green mandarin, bergamot and a hint of lavender (your hope), finishing with base notes of leather and grey musk (your smoldering shoes after you've been vaporized)." The bottle holds 100 ml, even for several "away missions". So Trekkies, er, Trekkers unite!

What: Red Shirt Star Trek Cologne
Where: Think Geek website
How much (as of today's post): $29.99 (plus shipping)

Star Trek Enterprise Bottle Opener

Normally on Saturdays I do a more general post, but as I'm at another science fiction convention (my husband and I go to four or five of them a year), I'm a bit pressed for time, so here is a terrific stocking stuffer for the Star Trek fan in your life: an Enterprise bottle opener! I admit that I wouldn't normally pay $20 for a bottle opener, but this is too perfect, and my husband will definitely be finding one of these in his stocking this year.

What: Star Trek Enterprise Bottle Opener
Where: Think Geek website
How much (as of today's post): $19.99

Emily Dickinson Silk Scarf

Some time ago I posted about a silk Shakespeare sonnets scarf from the Museum Company Store website. Since then, I've come across this lovely silk scarf featuring the poetry of Emily Dickinson and though it would make a nice post for a "luxury Friday". Ironically, I found the Dickinson scarf at the Shakespeare's Den website! I wish I had a way to enlarge the image to show the detail, but on the other hand, this way you can see the lovely overall pattern as well as the vibrant colors.

As a silly aside, have you ever heard the claim that any Emily Dickinson poem can be set to the tune of "The Yellow Rose of Texas"? Try it! Oh, "Because I could not stop for death, He kindly stopped for meeeeeee....." (Too bad I can't insert little music symbols into the text here!)

In any case, this is a lovely scarf, sure to be appreciated by any Emily Dickinson lover, poetry lover, or even just a silk scarf lover. The scarf measures 11 by 60.5 inches, and comes in a gift box. If you wanted to use it as a stocking stuffer and the box was too big, you could probably re-wrap it in a smaller box (or find a bigger stocking!)

What: Emily Dickinson Silk Scarf
Where: Shakespeare's Den website
How much (as of today's post): $33.95 (plus shipping)

Cat Butt Air Freshener

Yes, yes, yes, I know this is tacky! But a friend once gave us a set of cat butt magnets (made by the same company as this air freshener), and I just can't help it. I think they're funny!

Anyhow, if you have know a cat lover who also has an, ahem, specific sense of humor, here's an inexpensive stocking stuffer that will make them laugh.

There's really nothing more to say about this, is there? Here is my cat stamp of approval: >^..^<

What: Cat Butt Air Freshener
Where: Perpetual Kid website
How much (as of today's post): $3.99 (plus shipping)

Sprinkles Cupcake Mix

Just a short time ago, I did a post on a cupcake-themed stocking, and I thought I had listed a lot of ideas, but every time I turn around I find something else in the cupcake world! New to the Williams Sonoma website, these Sprinkles Cupcake Mixes originate from the cupcake bakery of the same name in Beverly Hills. Even the containers look elegant, don't you think?

Flavor-wise, there's a lot to choose from: chocolate, red velvet, vanilla, banana, lemon, and the new spice flavor. It would be tough to choose, but spice sounds good to me right now, maybe because it's (supposed to be!) autumn now. In any case, if you know someone who loves to bake but is busy, one of these cupcake mixes would make a terrific stocking stuffer. Each mix makes a dozen cupcakes, and includes a recipe included for a matching frosting.

What: Sprinkles Cupcake Mix
Where: Williams Sonoma website or stores
How much (as of today's post): $14.00 (plus shipping)

Emergency Computer BackUp Pencil Holder

Got a technophobe in your family or your office? This emergency computer backup pencil holder would make a great stocking stuffer! Alternatively, it could make a great gag gift for your favorite computer geek, the one who might not even know how to operate the sophisticated technology that is The Pencil! The holder measures 4 by 2.12 by 3.25 inches, which, as the Perpetual Kid website notes, is large enough to hold other emergency items, like extra ketchup packets and spare change.

What: Emergency Computer BackUp Pencil Holder
Where: Perpetual Kid website
How much (as of today's post): $14.99 (plus shipping)

New York City in a Bag

Today's stocking stuffer is this adorable wooden New York City in a bag! From the Museum of Modern Art's online shop, this set includes "MoMA's original 1939 building, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the Statue of Liberty, and the Guggenheim Museum," plus three skyscrapers. There are also six little wooden cars to drive around the buildings. The website notes that the wood is from sustainable forests, and that the smallest piece is 0.25 inches high by 1 inch wide, and the tallest piece is 4 inches high by 2 inches wide.

The website recommends the buildings for children over 12. I honestly think you could go younger with these (maybe 7 or 8 years old?), but I agree that the set is not appropriate for very young children due to the choking hazard. I think kids would find these blocks fun to play with, and it's so refreshing to see wooden instead of plastic toys! These also would also be fun for an adult who's been transplanted out of the city to elsewhere in the country, who feels a bit homesick for New York City once in a while. The Empire State Building or the Chrysler Building could stick up out of the stocking, with the other blocks gift wrapped under the tree.

What: New York City in a Bag
Where: MoMA Store website
How much (as of today's post): $15.00 ($13 for members / plus shipping)

Lauren Alexander Stickers

Because most items on Etsy are handmade (although they also sell vintage items and crafting supplies), some people tend to assume that everything on there is very expensive. Not so! There are lots of bargains to be found on Etsy, and the gift recipient will also see that you didn't run out to the drugstore at the last minute to stuff the Christmas stockings!

Today's Etsy stocking stuffer is this set of lovely stickers from seller Lauren Alexander. As you can see from her selection of art prints, note cards, and pendants, Lauren's style is sweet, colorful, and luminous. Both her art pendants and her set of 15 stickers would make perfect stocking stuffers. I especially love the stickers because I remember that when I was a kid I adored stickers. As an adult, I still use them to adorn the envelopes when I send the occasional note card (something we need to do more often, I think -- e-cards just aren't the same!). There are several sets of stickers to choose from, and I would be hard-pressed to choose -- just look at those sweet faces! Don't forget to look at the pendants and note cards in particular, which along with the stickers would make up a lovely gift set. (In fact, Lauren does have a gift set made up of different items!)

What: Lauren Alexander Stickers
Where: Lauren Alexander (an Etsy shop)
How much (as of today's post): $8.00 (plus shipping)

Nostalgic Items from Ebay

When my baby sister got married a few years back (and yes, my baby sister getting married made me feel old!), the bridal shower was for general gifts but there was also a "wishing well" (a big garbage can) that we filled with small kitchen items. I decided to go on ebay and see if I could find a duplicate set of the red Tupperware cookie cutters that had been in our family for at least a couple of decades. And there they were! I couldn't believe how easy it was. There was the Christmas tree, the Halloween pumpkin, the Thanksgiving turkey, the gingerbread boy, the pig that looked like Porky Pig (I have no idea what occasion that one was for), the Easter bunny (that we thought looked an awful lot like the Playboy bunny!), and the birthday cake.

In fact, I just looked, and the same set is on ebay again right now for all of $5.99! Looking at the photo (shown above) just brings me right back to my childhood!

The point is, if there is something from your childhood that you've long since lost or given away, or if your husband talks wistfully of his favorite pirate Weeble from his childhood, or if there's some favorite book or Barbie doll or Honey Hill Bunch doll that you remember, well, chances are you can find it on ebay! And lots of such vintage, nostalgic items will be perfect for a really unique stocking stuffer or other small gift. Just remember to shop around a little and don't bid outrageous amounts for the first item you see. And remember to check the seller's ratings to make sure he or she is reliable.

Ravi Instant Wine Chiller

Once again it's "luxury Friday", the one day I week I feature stocking stuffers that cost more than $20. (For the record, as of today, or not quite a year of posting a stocking stuffer every day, I've posted 69 items in the under $5 category, 93 under $10, 48 under $15, and 23 under $20, plus the 47 weekly "luxury Friday" items.)

In any case, today's item definitely is a luxury, both in price and in function. It's a Ravi Instant Wine Chiller, which is a little metal device you store in the freezer and then use to pour an unchilled bottle of wine, so that it chills within seconds as you pour it. I've been thinking about posting this item for a while, but kept coming back to the thought that "well, you can just keep wine in the fridge, after all!" And then last night, I had just poured myself the tiny bit of Chardonnay left in the fridge when I realized the new bottle wasn't chilled yet. Sigh.... So I guess this Ravi chiller might be nice to have in the freezer for those moments when you get caught off guard, or if you're having a large party and there's no way to fit all the wine in the fridge. Which means this would also make an elegant and generous stocking stuffer (or gift basket item) for a wine connoisseur or a frequent entertainer.

For what it's worth, the two customer reviewers on Amazon both give this five stars. The list price is $49.95, but Amazon has it for $38.31 as of this writing. Happy pouring!

What: Ravi Instant Wine Chiller
Where: Amazon or elsewhere
How much (as of today's post): $38.31 (plus shipping)

Make Your Own Ruler Kit

Here's a fun stocking stuffer idea that I'd never come across before: a "make your own ruler kit" from Escapade Direct. This plastic ruler, which has both inches and centimeters, has an easy pop-out backing that allows you to change the ruler "art" at any time. You can put in photos, drawings, paintings, or even a collage. On the one hand, this would be great for kids so that they can make their own ruler. On the other hand, this would make a great gift to a friend, sweetheart, or grandparent if you first fill it with appropriate photos. Very versatile, don't you think? And just the right price!

What: Make Your Own Ruler Kit
Where: Escapade Direct website
How much (as of today's post): $4.25 (plus shipping)

McTavish's Scotty Dog Shortbread Cookies

Here's a gift for someone who's both a food lover and a dog lover: a two-pack of McTavish Scotty Dog shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate. I found these on the Reigning Pets website, but I also saw a gift tin last year on the Williams Sonoma website -- it's since disappeared from there, but maybe they'll bring it back in time for the holidays. On the Reigning Pets website, the cookies come either chocolate dipped or covered with clear sprinkles, and cost $4.00 for a two-pack. (If you're a good baker, which I'm not, you could also make your own!)

What: McTavish's Scotty Dog Shortbread Cookies
Where: Reigning Pets website
How much (as of today's post): $4.00 for pack of two (plus shipping)

Geeky Badge Holders

Living in Houston, I know a lot of people who work for NASA, which means they have to wear work badges a good deal of the time. These badge holders from the Think Geek website would make a fun stocking stuffer for men or women who wear work badges. The options are ninja, pirate, or the plain and simple "geek". At $5.99, they won't break the bank, either!

What: Geeky Badge Holders
Where: Think Geek website
How much (as of today's post): $5.99 (plus shipping)

Pocket Doodles for Kids

Happy Labor Day! I hope everyone is able to enjoy a nice day off before we plunge into the fall season.

For today's stocking stuffer, I have Pocketdoodles for Kids, which is a little (5.8 x 4 x 0.8 inches) book by Bill Zimmerman full of doodling and coloring activities. It reminds me of something I had when I was a kid: an "Uncoloring Book", which gave suggestions for drawings but let the child draw him or herself instead of just filling in lines like traditional coloring books. The idea is to encourage imagination, creativity, and confidence.

Anyway, I first came "Pocket Doodles for Kids" several months ago at a Borders store, and I knew it would make a great stocking stuffer. It's also available at Amazon and most at likely Barnes & Noble or any specialty children's bookstore. Be sure and pair it with some crayons or colored pencils in your child's stocking! This would also be great for traveling, either on a long car ride or while stuck waiting in an airport.

What: Pocket Doodles for Kids
Where: Amazon or elsewhere
How much (as of today's post): $9.99 (plus shipping)

Floppy Bookies from Etsy Seller Contexto

I love gifts and products that take something destined for the landfill and turn it into something with new life. If you're eco-minded as well, here is a perfect stocking stuffer for just about anyone -- but especially for anyone computer-oriented! Ana from the Contexto Etsy shop has taken computer floppy disks and turned them into cute, useful little notebooks, each with 70 pages and seamless metal rings to bind them. The rings allow the pages to be flipped completely around for convenience, and you can even buy refills so the floppy booky can be used for a long time to come!

These little notebooks would also be great for teens, who will probably be astounded that we used to save our computer files on these things.... you know, back when we had to walk to school in the snow, uphill both ways!

What: Floppy Bookies
Where: Contexto (an Etsy shop)
How much (as of today's post): $5.00 (plus shipping)

Stocking Stuffers from Whole Foods

Yesterday I went to Whole Foods. It's easily my favorite grocery store to shop at, but I only get there once or twice a month because the closest one is 25 miles away. In between, I shop at Randall's (Safeway) and Kroger. But it's Whole Foods I love the best, and what a treasure trove it is for unusual and classy stocking stuffers!

One unusual item I saw was Reed's Peanut Butter Ginger Chews. I don't know exactly what they would taste like, but as I've gotten older, I've becoming a lot more willing to try unusual flavors. And they would certainly be a departure from the usual Hershey's Kisses!

Another fun item I saw was the Truffle Pig line of chocolate bars from a company in Vancouver called Hagensborg. Each flavor has a different little pig character adorning the wrapper. (I have a friend who collects pig figurines and such, so I always have my "pig radar" on when I'm shopping!)

For the little ones, and for a slightly healthier option, there's the Barbara's Bakery brand Snackimals animal crackers. They're made with organic grains, and there's even a wheat-free oatmeal version for those with wheat allergies. The other flavors include chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, and vanilla.

What else can you find at Whole Foods that might work for a stocking stuffer? The store I visit always has an interesting selection of handmade and hand-cut marshmallows, exotic teas and coffees, eco-friendly baby items such as little booties, the Burt's Bees line, and unusual sauces and toppings, such as the Fischer-Wieser Raspberry Chipotle sauce that I featured in one of my earliest posts on this blog.

I also know that Whole Foods has a reputation for being pricey, and as such has been given the nickname Whole Paycheck. I tend to think this is unfounded. A lot of their products do cost a bit more because they are organic or free-trade or otherwise environmentally conscious. However, I've noticed that the prices for the same organic products (Horizon Organic Milk, the Muir Glen line, etc.) are often higher at Randall's and Kroger's than they are at Whole Foods. If you do have a Whole Foods nearby, I urge you to check it out.

Hand-Knit Hand Puppets

Here's a luxury stocking stuffer you can feel good about giving: a hand-knit, eco-friendly hand puppet made by a collective of knitters in rural Kenya. The collective is associated with the East Africa Hub, a "non-profit organization comprised of socially responsible businesses that provide a link between artisans and the marketplace." The puppets are made of natural wool yarn treated with natural vegetable-based dyes. My favorite is the zebra -- or wait, maybe the elephant! -- but you can also find a dog, a lion, a leopard, and monkey.

I love the natural look of these puppets, and just think how cute they would look peeking out of the top of a Christmas stocking! And don't forget the best thing of all: puppets are something that encourage interactive, imaginative play.

What: Hand-Knit Zebra Hand Puppet
Where: Branch website
How much (as of today's post): $22.00 (plus shipping)

Wine Cork Candles (In a Wine-Themed Stocking!)

Here's something that would go perfectly with last week's wine cork place card holders: a set of four wine cork candles that fit atop empty wine bottles. Each cork candle will burn for two hours, so they're perfect for a romantic dinner or as a hostess gift.

In fact, think of what a lovely wine-themed gift basket or themed stocking you could put together with the wine-themed stocking stuffers I've listed over the past several months:

• Handmade grape cluster wine charms
  
  
• Chardonnay or Chambourcin wine jelly
  
  
• Saint and sinner wine stoppers
  
  
• Wine cork place card holders
  
  
• And of course (if it's a gift basket, a bottle of wine!

There are lots of other possibilities too: some chocolate to go with the wine, or a pocket-sized wine guide, or a nice corkscrew.... Themed stockings and gift baskets are easy once you start to think about them!

What: Wine Cork Candles
Where: Vat19 website
How much (as of today's post): $7.50 (plus shipping)

Crystallized Ginger Babies

It may still be well over 90 degrees every day here in Houston, but darn it! it's September, and I'm going to pretend it's fall!

So, just in time for the harvest season, here are these adorable ginger babies, or little crystallized gingerbread men. The King Arthur Flour company notes that these ginger babies are perfect with gingerbread, iced cake, or other "harvest confections". They can be dipped in chocolate or served alongside fine cheese for a little something different. However the recipient uses them, these ginger babies are sure to be a unique and much-appreciated stocking stuffer. The 6.7-oz jar (about 1.5 cups) costs $10.95, and would really dress up a stocking or a gift basket.

What: Crystallized Ginger Babies
Where: King Arthur Flour website
How much (as of today's post): $10.95 (plus shipping)

Out of This World Marbles

I can't believe it's September already! In my mind, this is the true beginning of fall -- although it certainly isn't fall yet in my hot, humid, Houston reality. Oh well, I can dream ahead....

Today's stocking stuffer is marbles, but not just any marbles! The Escapade Direct website has a huge selection of classic marble sets with various themes. Their "space" line includes Stardust, Milky Way, Galaxy, Asteroids, Comet, Jupiter, Mars.... Each set comes with 24 player marbles (16mm), 1 shooter marble (25mm), 2 marble display rings, and a game net with header card. The marbles are made of 100% glass and are colored according to the theme of the set. The only problem is that I can't tell from the photo how the sets are packaged, and there are no package dimensions listed, but I have to imagine they'd fit in a stocking somehow. Each set is regularly $2.99 and currently on sale for $2.79.

If space-themed marbles aren't what you have in mind, they also have an entire line of insect themed marbles, including bumblebee, centipede, dragonfly, grasshopper, and katydid. And there's a terrific collection of dinosaur-themed marbles: brontosaurus, pterodactyl, stegosaurus, T-rex, triceratops, and velociraptor.

Since the price is so reasonable, not only would these make great stocking stuffers, they would also be great favors for kids' birthday parties! They look to be of higher quality than the usual plastic favors you find in party stores, and what little boy wouldn't enjoy a space, dinosaur, or insect-themed party? Even as a girl, I would have loved a space or dinosaur party. The insects? Not so much....

What: Out of This World Marbles
Where: Escapade Direct website
How much (as of today's post): $2.79 (plus shipping)