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Christmas is coming. The shops are filling with singing Santa's, the festive to-do lists are being written and children across the world of are compiling their wish lists for Father Christmas. I absolutely love this time of year, but it is taken to a whole new level when you have your own children. Being part of creating that magic is so special (and filled with so much pressure!), but when it comes to filling stockings it can get very expensive for Father Christmas. I find it so interesting the different ways families celebrate Christmas, approach stockings and the traditions that are so personal to each family. We all do Christmas slightly differently and that's all part of the magic!
This year Rex London set a challenge to fill a stocking for £35, which is around half the price of the average stocking in the UK. If you're not familiar with Rex London then you may know them from their previous name, dotcomgiftshop. Earlier this year they changed their name, but are still selling their incredibly affordable range of homeware, toys and gifts. For the challenge I decided to put together a Christmas stocking for Isabella, a 3.5 year old girl that loves baking, drawing and using her imagination. The Rex London website is very easy to navigate, so it didn't take long to find a range of affordable items that would make the perfect stocking fillers for Isabella.
I tried to group together the gifts, so that they all worked together to create a range of activities for Isabella to enjoy going into the new year. Firstly, I went for a Red Riding Hood A6 Notebook (£1.95), Colourful Creatures Felt Tip Stamp Pens (set of 18) (£5.95) and a Pack of 12 Triangular Pencils in Tulip Box (£2.95) for drawing, writing and playing games in. They are both a good size for keeping in the changing bag for days out or when we're out for a meal and Isabella loves the Little Red Riding Hood story too. I like that the pencils have rubbers on the end, making them even more ideal for travelling with. The Colourful Creatures Stamp Pens are a 'two-in-one' that has a felt tip pen on one end and stamper on the other, therefore providing children with two different activities. The 18 felt tip pens come in a handy carry case, which also helps to keep them altogether. If your house is anything like mine then pens/pencils will always go missing. These felt tips are also chunky enough for smaller hands and a fun way for children to practise their writing/drawing/fine motor skills.
The second group of gifts I went for was the Gingerbread Man Cutter (£2.95) and Happy Cloud Bamboo Tray (£6.95) because Isabella loves baking in real life and in role play. The Gingerbread Man Cutter is the perfect baking accessory for this time of year and it's always a fun activity to decorate baked gingerbread men. The tray is the ideal size for children to carry themselves, which gives Isabella that sense of being grown up that she so desperately enjoys. I thought that she could either use the tray to carry her milk and homemade gingerbread men or in the play kitchen when setting up a tea party for her cuddly toys.
The third set of gifts I chose were based about fun and sparking Isabella's imagination, which were the Magic Aquarium (£3.95) and Mermaid Bath Fizzer (£3.95). The Magic Aquarium is a fish tank filled with growing fish! You fill it with water and over the following 72 hours the fish will grow bigger. I think this will really spark Isabella imagination and be her first little 'pets' that are much lower maintenance than real fish. Rex London do a fun range of bath fizzers that not only fizz around the bath, but also have a toy hidden inside, including a mermaid, sea creatures, magical unicorn and spider. The Mermaid Bath Fizzer comes in four colours (pink, blue, green or yellow) and I know that Isabella is going to love having a 'big girl' bath fizzer in her bath, just like I do sometimes.
My fourth and final set of stocking fillers are based around the theme of 'accessories', which includes the Miko the Panda set of 2 Hair Clips (£1.95) and Poppy Jumbo Bag (£4.95). How adorable are these hair clips? Isabella has really long hair, so is always in need of clips to keep it out of her face. They also have hair clips with bunnies, bears and cats on, if your child would prefer one of those animals. One of Rex London's most well-known products are their Jumbo Bags, probably because they come in a wide range of designs and are just so versatile. It may not initially seem like the most exciting present for a 3.5 year old, but Isabella absolutely loves playing 'Mums and Dads' which often involves packing things up for a day out or holiday. I think she's going to really enjoy filling this bag with her toys, doll accessories and clothes ready for her make believe holidays. It will also make a really useful storage bag for when Isabella isn't playing with it, for things like her ever expanding cuddly toy collection or for clothes that she's outgrown.
I'm so impressed at how much I was able to get for only £35 (and 55p); it really did fill Isabella's stocking up and includes a wide range of activities, things for her to play with and multipurpose gifts too.
What is on your or your child's Christmas stocking wish list this year?
Feel free to leave a comment - I love reading every single one :)
Helen x
What an absolute bargain!! I love the little tray and the hair clips.
ReplyDeleteI love everything here! I love shopping for stocking fillers. My girls would love the bath fizzers.
ReplyDeleteI love finding stocking fillers as much as I love the main presents, I love what you have chosen here x
ReplyDeleteSo many great stocking fillers here - I'll have to pop over to their site and take a look!
ReplyDeleteThese are so fab. I love the aquarium idea. I always used to shop at dotcomgiftshop, but I hadn't realised it had changed it's name. It is such a good place to get lovely gifts, and to manage a great stocking at a great price too
ReplyDeleteOh these all look lovely and such a good price! Definitely going to go check this site out!
ReplyDeleteMuch love, Caitylis x x
Before reading this post I had never heard of dotcomgiftshop or their new name Rex London but am very happy I have now! Will defo be heading over there to get some christmas bits this year, thank you! Also all the gifts you got look superb and for such a great price too! Thank you :) x
ReplyDeleteOh I love the baking set, my youngest daughter would love to make gingerbread men!
ReplyDeleteWhat a super selection of gifts for a very affordable price! I always leave my shopping to the last minute - maybe, this year, I'll be a bit more organised. :)
ReplyDeleteAww I love this list. I just picked up some things from Rex London for my daughter. We got the unicorn fizzer and some colouring bits and activities for her stocking. I've just seen so many more things I want on your list though! x
ReplyDeleteI haven't even thought of stocking fillers yet, I am so bad an normally leave them until the last minute then panic buy stuff for my three and spend a fortune. Some lovely ideas here, my little girl would love the hair clips and colouring pencils x
ReplyDeleteThat's so much for just £35! I'll probably do something similar for my niece this Christmas as she's just old enough now to understand Christmas x
ReplyDeleteAww my daughter would love all these items too! The panda hair clips are so cute & I love the rolling pin & cutter :D
ReplyDeleteOh wow how lovely is this to gift someone for Christmas. I also love that gingerbread person cutter too, very cute xx
ReplyDeleteOh wow I just love these stocking fillers. I've never heard of Rex London before but they look right up my street so I'm off to check them out x
ReplyDeleteI think this idea is brilliant for shopping on a budget. I love the mix of products from art inspired with the stamp pens to baking gingerbread with cutters
ReplyDeleteI’ve never heard of this brand before but the bits look brilliant especially the gingerbread cutters!
ReplyDeleteOh wow I never actually knew they had changed their name!! Good to know and loving all of these stocking fillers, so cute
ReplyDeleteLaura x
The mini fish tank is absolutely adorable! The notebook is also too cute! I love this gift guide xx
ReplyDeleteAww, Rex London always have lovely bits in stock, don't they? I love the gingerbread man cutter and the cloud tray. They're adorable :)
ReplyDeleteLouise x
These are awesome stocking stuffers that i think most kids would love.
ReplyDeletelots of great ideas, my 3 year old granddaughter would love the bath fizzers and the hair clips
ReplyDelete