Shop Local: The Best Sonoma-Centric Stocking Stuffers

I am on a huge kick this year to do as much Christmas shopping as I can here in Sonoma.

Experts agree that shopping for American made goods – especially during the the high-volume holiday shopping period – is a great way to kickstart the economy.

So, I hit the streets, looking for the best shops to buy toys and stocking stuffers for my kids while keeping my money here in Sonoma. (And was I successful; our town is filled with amazing trinkets to stuff a stocking for kids of all ages.)

Here's what I hit; (Check out a slideshow of the day, at right.)

The Marketplace at 201 West Napa Street: Here are three great stores that are stocked to the brim with wonderful stocking stuffers for the kids.

has rows and rows of puzzles, games and stickers, priced from $2 - $20. They will be open on Christmas Eve and offer free wrapping for any item over $15, just take the gift over to McCalou's.

, just next door to Hollyhocks, has a great selection of stocking stuffers ranging in price from $.99 to $4 right by the register. Lots of kazoos and hackie sacks and and an entire case of Hello Kitty merchandise. I recently had another local mom of twins tell me she always get her last minute stocking stuffers here. The assortment is great and they have perfect little treats for boys and girls. (Also they will be open on Christmas Eve until about 4:00.)

, at the end of the shopping center, has tons of smaller gifts – from Playmobil people, to Smencils and milk straws, they have bins filled with many unique and well-made kids toys. Mad Libs are always a favorite for my kids! They will be open until about 3:30 p.m on Christmas Eve and have free gift wrapping.

Downtown: 

at 115 East Napa Street. , is very friendly and extremely helpful; she can put together any theme you would like –  such as baseball or Hello Kitty candies and trinkets –  or you can just pick out lovely, little treats.  From the Pez candy to the baseballs, your kids stocking will be brimming with treats! The shop stays open on Christmas Eve until the last customer has been rung up (“Somewhere around 6:00ish” Heidi told me.) And next week, December 20th, Tiddlewinks will be donating 15% of all proceeds to ! Sounds like a perfect day to go shopping if you ask me!

Sox Appeal is a new store, just a couple of doors down, stocked with the cutest socks and tights. My kids will each be getting a new pair. The prices are all around $4 and the socks are all very well made. They also offer free gift wrapping and will be open on Christmas Eve.

: With a sign out front asking, if I had stocking stuffers, I knew I had found the right place. The store expanded into the new location about a year ago and I just don’t know what took me so long to get there. This store is adorable! The shelves are lined with books, marble games and unique stocking stuffers and all at great prices. Hello Mento’s Geyser Tube and Marble Race Car; My son will love you!

Well, I hope this helps you to choose local when you have the opportunity. I guarantee your kids won’t be disappointed, your pocketbook, or our wonderful town!