Last year, I waited (impatiently) by my mail slot for a copy of The Container Store Stocking Stuffer catalog to arrive. I waited. And I waited. Arms crossed. Feet tapping. Waited. I didn’t go as far as to accost my mail carrier but it was close… It used to come at the end of November–colder weather, Thanksgiving, and then the arrival of the catalog–in that order!
But, no catalog. No announcement from The Container Store that they would be saving paper that year and not printing one. No personal note of apology for taking away some of the joy of my holiday season.
So, I did the next best thing. I got on my couch with my laptop, a pad, and a pen and instead of turning pages of a catalog, I scrolled the Container Store Stocking Stuffers 2022 collection via their website.
This year, I did not hold out hope for the arrival of a post-Turkey Day catalog. I went straight to my couch with my laptop. There were close to 200 stocking stuffers in this year’s collection–lots of new ones and a few I’ve reviewed in the past.
I’ve been writing this stocking stuffer highlight post (almost) annually since 2013. Since then, The Container Store has definitely strayed from a stocking stuffer collection of mostly organizing products to a collection of some organizing products and more kitchy, cutesy, useful, and fun items. Regardless, I’m always excited to see what they have on their list.
Every year, I split the stocking stuffers I’ve chosen to highlight into categories. This year, the Container Store Stocking Stuffers 2022 categories are: Fun, Useful, Get Organized!, Pricey, and ‘What On Earth Were They Thinking?.’
FUN
Cookie Dunker Straw
$6.99
Do kids dunk cookies anymore or is it a thing of the past? If it hasn’t been popular lately, this product will most definitely resurrect a pastime of our youth. No more getting your fingers covered in milk upon dunking! Whatever you drink and dunk with–cow’s milk, oat milk, almond milk–have fun dunking your cookies!
Light Up Scrunchie (also useful)
$10.99
Did you know the scrunchie was patented in 1987? I was in college back then and I think I still own a few of my scrunchies from way-back-then. They made a comeback with the recent VSCO girl trend. When my tween son recently commented that I looked like a VSCO girl when I wore one, I promptly informed him that I was an original trend setter back in the 1980’s. Insert tween boy eye roll here…
I think this product is a cute idea for any female that wears scrunchies. It would be fun to wear to parties, outdoor evening events, and it can also be used as a safety device for those walking/jogging in the evening hours.
USEFUL
Stress Less Cards
$8.99
I really wish there wasn’t a need for this product but thank goodness it exists! Each box contains 100 cards with tips and strategies for leading a stress-free or at least a less stressful life. If you’re looking for simple ways to manage and get rid of stress during the day, these cards just may do the trick. Sometimes all it takes is a quote, an idea, or support in the form of a card to help us breathe a little easier.
Portable Hair Tie Holder
$7.99
I have two boys but I’ve heard from ‘girl-moms’ that their daughter’s hair ties can be found all over the house and they multiply in their sleep. This hair tie holder attaches to a handbag or backpack or even a belt loop for easy access to a hair tie. Great for on-the-go hair needs. It has the capacity to hold three of them–one for you, one for a friend, and one to spare. If you’re always looking for a hair tie for yourself or another female in your life, this may be a small but mighty solution to your hair tie-hunting needs.
Kelvin Fidget Spinner Multi Tool
$24.99
Boy, could we really free up space in our tool boxes with this item! It’s always a good idea to have a flat head and a Phillips head screwdriver handy. This multi tool comes with two of each of those and two Torx heads (a type of head I had not heard of until recently). Keep it handy for quick fixes around the house and keep one in your glove compartment. Sounds like the perfect gift for a kid going to college or getting their first apartment, too. And if you’re bored because you’ve fixed everything in your home with this multi-tool, then you can pass the time by using it as a fidget spinner!
Get Organized!
Erin Condren ‘Oh, What a Week’ Notepad
$9.99
I could go on and on about the benefits of planning out and organizing your week. It allows you to be strategic about how you use your time, helps you block out time and track weekly tasks and goals, and increases your productivity (which leads to decreased stress-levels). As opposed to utilizing a phone or tablet, this pad offers is an option for those who prefer to write. The colors are inviting (thanks, Erin for making it *pretty*) and there are plenty of lines in each box to jot down errands, appointments and reminders.
I don’t recommend using this as a calendar, but instead as a visual reminder of what you need to accomplish in a given week. There are fifty sheets–I guess Erin Condren wants you to take off two weeks during the year??? If you need those extra two sheets, place one of the blank pages in a Xerox machine and print them out. If you’ve been meaning to start planning your weeks, this pad could support that goal.
Flex Pot Clip
$7.99
I cook a lot–so much so that I own two spoon rests–one on each side of my cook top. They get messy quickly and need to be scrubbed often. The Flex Pot Clip seems as if it is an organized solution to a messy problem!
It’s made of heat-resistant silicone and stainless steel and clips onto the side of a pot or pan. The silicone helps to grip the clip and grip the utensil it’s holding. I like the fact that all drips go right back into the pot and it would eliminate one item from taking up space on my ingredient-filled countertop while I’m cooking. Don’t tell my spoon rests, but I just may have to buy this one and give it a try…
Pricey
Chef’n Smores Maker
$49.99
Hmmmm. Fifty dollars for a little s’mores maker? The product description says it’s family-friendly (I’m not sure what they mean by that because there’s FIRE involved…) and compact (OK–I guess easy to transport–with chafing fuel–for making s’mores when you’re away from home) but is it worth fifty dollars?
And, at that price point, can you really use store-brand marshmallows and anything but ‘the good chocolate?’ (Thank you, Ina Garten…). I guess for those who love s’mores and for those who don’t want the cost or upkeep of a fire pit, it’s a fine solution. Go ahead, indulge in your passion for s’mores-making or make another s’mores lover in your life giddy with excitement. We only go around this world once, ya know…
What Were They Thinking???
Beard Buddy Keyring Comb
$8.99
I’m not a guy. And my guy does not have a beard. I’m going to have to ask some bearded men to give me some insight on this product because I.Just.Don’t.Get.It. Is this even sanitary??? I’m not sure who came up with this concept? Maybe a guy with a beard who had a small comb in his pocket but nothing to open his drink with? Necessity IS the mother of invention after all!
Whatever my opinions are about the Keyring Comb, I’m happy to announce that after many years, The Container Store has removed ‘Poo-Pourri’ from their Stocking Stuffer list. Maybe they read my thoughts about it in my 2016 stocking stuffer post and decided to remove it. Have no fear–it’s still in the store if you must buy it for someone. And, OK–I’ll give them this. Unlike other items on the Stocking Stuffer list, it does actually fit easily into a stocking…..
Interested in seeing the entire Container Store Stocking Stuffers 2022 collection? Click here and happy scrolling!
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Stacey is a Professional Organizer, Virtual Organizer, and Author in Bergen County, New Jersey specializing in home organizing, time, and paper management. She is the author of The Organized Bride’s Thank You Note Handbook: Let Systems and 101 Modern Sample Thank You Notes Take You From Overwhelmed to Organized.
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What fun gift ideas! I, too, love The Container Store. I love the tool for the hair ties! I think I will get one for my daughter.
I think your daughter will appreciate the gift of hair-tie organization!
I love your commentary, Stacey! I just don’t get the comb/keyring combo either. My favorite is the multi-tool. I’m thinking of getting one for me to keep in the kitchen junk drawer. A perfect tool for those quick fix things that always seem to crop up.
You must have read my mind! When I was looking at the multi-tool I had the same thought–it’s the perfect tool to store in a kitchen junk drawer. It barely takes up any space and yet it is so handy to have for quick repairs or to change a battery.
I asked my husband (no beard) about the comb/keyring thing and he didn’t get it either. I’ll have to check back and see if it got any positive reviews!
As always, I love your Container Store stocking stuffers posts! You always find such fun things and I enjoy seeing which ones stand out for you. My most favorite is the Stress Less Cards, with the Smores Maker a close second. It’s also fun going to the store to see these IRL. 🙂
I like how you figured out a quick workaround when you realized they were no longer sending out catalogs. Good one!
I miss those catalogs! But, in the interest of saving the environment, I understand the need to go digital.
At first, the Stress Less cards did not make my list. But, after a second round of perusing the stocking stuffers and considering what is going on in the world today, I decided to include them. And if you’re stressed, I’d say…eat s’mores!
OMG, I have something to say about almost all of these. First, I’d put the cookie dunker into the “what were they thinking” category for my household; none of my glasses are wide enough for dunking!
I would totally wear a light-up scrunchie. I started wearing them in college in the 80s, just like you, and have invested in cuter ones (velvet, little rosettes) over the years. A Twitter friend once joked that something was as unlikely as a return of scrunchies, and I pointed out that I never stopped using them. Why NOT show off with a light-up version?
I’m a big fan of multi-tools, and though that one doesn’t seem very ergonomic, it would definitely live happily in my work bag or glove compartment!
The ‘OH, WHAT A WEEK’ notepad is my favorite. There are lots of people for whom a full day planner would be excessive (and why waste paper?) and this is so darned pretty.
The S’Mores maker seems like a perfect wedding gift for that quirky couple that already has everything but will be expecting a tangible gift.
But yeah, I’d pass on the beard/beer doohickey. It’s dudely, but you just know it would go unused.
Thanks for bringing us these delights!
Love your comments! At first, I wasn’t sure about the Oh, What a Week pad but the more I thought about it the more it grew on me so I included it–and I’m always advising people to look at their whole week instead of just a day at a time. Functional and pretty, too!
I agree–the s’mores maker would be a fun engagement/bridal shower/wedding gift for the right couple. Who needs another blender or toaster? 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the post!
I, too, love stocking stuffer ideas. And you touched, at the end, on one of my Christmas pet peeves: If it doesn’t fit, it’s not a stocking stuffer! Our family Christmasses have morphed over the years to where this is less of a problem, but I am thinking of times where we adults shared the filling of each other’s stockings. The idea was that if we all contributed ONE or a couple of little things to each stocking, it would fill the stockings. But some would arrive with gift BAGS full of little (or big) cheap stuff PER PERSON that equaled more than I needed or wanted and also equaled more than I knew they could afford.)