So, I'm putting together a care package to take down to Lauren today, for her to open at the end of September (she has one already to open just after Labour Day). I've included: a bag of her favourite candy, some cookies, individual packs of nuts, granola bars, fruit snacks, hot chocolate, Crystal Lite, gum, some sticky notes, tissues, cute napkins with red maple leaves, a card with a $20 dollar bill. Any other creative suggestions?
Quarters for the laundromat (if she doesn't have her own washing machine) Cookbook (if she has access to a kitchen) Sugar Scrub from Body Works
lip balm/gloss nail polish (some really fun new kinds like magnetic polish) movie gift certificate mp3 player or fun new ear buds for her mp3 player clorox wipes computer screen wipes (for her laptop) blank stationary for her to use with some stamps card game (skip bo, etc.) silly string, glow stick mouth, dollar store fun stuff
Something to think about for December: I made a Christmas stocking in the college colors and put a gift in it for each day until the end of finals. Mostly it was dollar store things like a string of lights (check dorm regulations), inflatable reindeer (which I believe was placed in all sorts of areas in the dorm- he was studying, doing laundry, in beds, etc), candy, gum, candy canes to share, etc. I gave it to my kids when they came home for Thanksgiving so postage wasn't an issue but I don't know if that'll work for you. So far, the stocking has come home to get refilled so I know it's popular. Your package sounds great!
fun pens silly putty flashlight (emergencies) electronic goldfish bowl http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/eb56/ Scrabble magnetic set www.gifts.com/search/product/Scrabble-Magnet-Set-?prodID=485097
I heart these squishy balls. You can sometimes find them at the dollar store. http://www.mindsetsonline.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=137_507&products_id=1009302
I knew I could count on you all! I'm off to the dollar store. I'm trying to stay away from having to mail a package if I can, so when we go down, I'll take some "post-dated" ones. After this weekend, we likely won't see her until our Thanksgiving (early October), and I'll do a Halloween themed one then. Keep the ideas coming...she's there for 4 years!
Jif sells individual packs of peanut butter and I've seen small packs of Nutella at Walmart. Plastic knife + crackers = late night happiness!
My mom always sent us cute socks in care packages. Ramen, dried fruit, mini cans of veggies... I used to like to try to make meals in my dorm every once in awhile but it was hard to get the food groups in.
When my sister was in Europe, my mom always sent tampons in her care packages. If Lauren will be opening the boxes in front of her friends, though, you might not want to include those!
lol. that's the majority of the care packages we have been sending my sister in Africa, but she can't get them there. At least not the ones she wants, I guess.
Does she like beauty products in general? If so, I bet a lot of girls would like to play with the popular Test Tubes. In was on QVC earlier and mentioned it being a great thing to mail to college students.
Different flavored chapsticks... especially when the weather changes. What about some slippers... I know my neighbor lived in the dorms and used flip flops in the showers... A snuggie
Justin's flavored nut butters in indidual packets are my favorite! I love all the ideas everyone gave. Throw a gift card for a palace she loves to go but won't. (coffe shop, cosmetics store, etc.) makeup samples are my favorite! Mini coloring book and crayons; it is silly but I found them comforting when I was all stressed out and needed to calm down.
You guys rock! You have given me tons of ideas--she'll be one spoiled kid (either that, or the one with the psycho mother!) I have to remember to pick up some gift cards tomorrow for places that are in town and close to campus. Diz--I think I'll have to scope out a snuggie in school colours for her for Christmas.
Extra toiletries, extra underwear and socks, a few more twenty dollar bills (!), gift certificates to restaurants, warm hats (it is cold and windy there).
What about some snacky stuff... I was thinking like cracker jacks (I'm sure not so popular any more), but like fiddle faddle or something. It always fun to have a little munchy food OOh little snack pack puddings...they don't have to be in the fridge. I said flip flops because they'll probaly be going on sale and you could get a few different cute ones. I asked my neighbor why do you use those cheapies...she said so I don't have to step on the bathroom floors... makes sense!!! She also loved any kind of snacks that were homemade... When she would come home she would ask have you made anything lately?!?!LOL!!! Oh and suckers like dum dum or hard candy or mints. That would be cute...
Oh a gift card for dinner is a great idea. I used to love to go out with my friends but we rarely had enough cash.
Don't contribute to the freshman 15. A few is more than enough. Lol. Do think of other fun stuff to put in there and some gift cards to get real food.
She does eat really well, Cut, (always has) and trains hard 5 or 6 days a week, so I'm not too worried about weight gain that isn't muscle. In the box I dropped off today, 75% of the food was healthy.
My mom wrote me letters about their lives from the dogs perspective... Dear Rabbitt, Today Mom and Dad left me home alone with that fur ball while they went to church. Of course they didn't come home right away because they went to visit grandma. When they FINALLY got home, it was ALL about the Packers. Mom did make some popcorn but would not share much. Geez I wish you were home...you always share. ETC...you get the idea.
I always loved gift cards for Dunkin' Donuts and Tylenol. Bandaids. If you're feeling up to it, this would be a great way to receive it: http://www.museums10.org/images/uploads/UMassAmherstFineArtsCenter/friedman-carepackage-m10.gif
When I went away to boarding school, my mom got me book called Where's Mom Now That I Need Her. I still have it, and it is still helpful. My mom used to always send decorations for me. For Halloween one year she sent some Jack O'lantern cut outs, like for a bulletin board. We kept them up all year and kept adding to then for the holiday (Santa hat, bunny ears, etc.) My mom just sent me some of the shoes in a bag. If I were still in college, I would have loved them after a night out dancing!
