Those stockings aren't going to stuff themselves, everybody! While you may wish you could rely on Santa to get the job done, sometimes you have to take care of Christmas business yourself. Stocking stuffers should be small gifts, nothing that's going to break the bank because you've got an entire sock to fill up before the kids wake up the next morning.

Inexpensive, however, does not mean cheap. There are super fun stocking stuffers you can buy for under $10 that will last longer than the trip to the 99-cent store. Which is also what you were thinking of doing at the last minute, right?

Here are 10 fabulous stocking stuffers for kids, $10 and under.

Leave it to a word nerd like me to get a little huffy around the holidays. When hot toy lists get all our attention, is it any wonder our mission to raise a reader goes out the window for the month?

I've made it my mission to make sure there's at least one new book in the pile of goodies under my family Christmas tree every year, and so far it's been a hit. Want to get in on the action? I've come up with a list of can't-fail hits for your tots. After all, each one is a favorite of one of the writers on The Stir staff!

Once you tackle buying all the big gifts, you usually give out a big sigh of relief. Until you realize you still need to stuff the stockings! Sure you can throw some candy in there, but do you really want your kid even more sugared up on Christmas?

I'm here to help with a roundup of inexpensive, fun, and even unusual stocking stuffers for your little one that will do those stockings proud. Like this Super Sudser bath toy. This works like an eggbeater to both dispense and whip up shampoo or bubble bath into tons of frothy foam. Amazon, $3.

The days until Christmas and Hanukkah are dwindling, and if you and your elves haven't done your shopping yet, now is the time to start (quickly!). Like every year, there are "it" toys that seem to end up on all children's lists across the country. Somehow they become hot, and you find yourself doing mad dashes across town and frantic online searches trying to track down the coveted items.

Of course, sometimes the challenge is greater before the big hunt when it comes to narrowing down what exactly is hot, especially if you're buying for nieces, nephews, and other kids you might not be getting direct input from. To help you out with your holiday shopping and make you look cool and happenin', here's a list of the 20 Hottest Toys of 2011 based on input from parents and kids across the country. Ready, set, shop!

For a lot of us, money is pretty tight this year. Even if you're feeling flush, sometimes it's more fun to spend time and effort instead of a lot of money to make your child a gift they'll (hopefully) treasure.

Most of these gift ideas require minimal sewing skills and a small outlay of cash for supplies, but some recycled things you might already have around the house. And while they take some time, you could probably get at least a few of these done well before the holiday. Let the crafting begin!

Happy holidays! It's that time of year when we buy too many things for our kids and wind up feeling guilty anyway when we go on a playdate and discover Tiffany has a hand-built dollhouse made by Grandpa. Still, we try.

Some parents try too hard, as witnessed by a recent post on Facebook. My FB friend basically said if you're buying your 4-year-old an iPad for Christmas, well, forget you. If I didn't 'Like' on the page, I certainly liked in real life. I mean, spending hundreds of dollars on a gadget for a kid that you can't even afford to buy for yourself? You know kids ruin everything, right?

And then I found out my kids were getting iPads for Christmas. Suddenly it seems like an amazing idea.

One of the best parts of being a parent is getting to share toys that you loved growing up with your kids ... and, sometimes, finally getting your mitts on the toys your parents never bought you -- despite your desperate pleas. Check out 21 serious blast from the past toys that you might, if they're lucky, let your kids play with ...

1960s and 1970s

Lite Brite: Yes, they still have these, in some super fun variations -- and, of course, the ever-important travel version, too.

Speak and Spell: Do you remember this one? It was the hottest toy of the late 1970s and actually did help us learn to spell. You can find a Speak and Spell (and its companions, Speak and Read and Speak and Math) on eBay if you're feeling nostalgic for its robotic voice and simple games.

Baby Alive: Yes, this was around when I was a kid, and yes, 30 years later, you can get your little girl one too! I really did love mine and the updated version is just so much cooler than what I had.

Everybody loves a homemade gift, especially grandparents and other family members. And if you can carve out the time, making crafts with your kids is a gratifying way to spend some holiday time together. The gifts can be pretty simple -- no one expects a masterpiece from kids. But it's more fun if they can come up with something unique and meaningful, too. 

Now that it's December (eek!), it's time to get started on those handmade stocking stuffers and presents. Check out these 10 fun projects to make with your kids!