<p>S just asked for a small item he’d forgotten from his room here at home to be sent, so I used it as an excuse to send it in a larger box with a number of different grocery store treats – goldfish crackers, cookies, red vines, etc. At the last minute I added a bag of marshmallows – those turned out to be his fave. He shared the less precious items with his suitemates and stowed the marshmallows in a drawer. </p>
<p>Wonder if marshmallows could be used as packing material?</p>
<p>I sent him a mail-order birthday cake last year. They wouldn’t deliver it to his room, I guess, and by the time he got around to picking up the package – two weeks later!!! – the cake was covered with mold. Won’t be doing that again this year!</p>
<p>Marshmellows! I just had a college dorm flash back. I remember our hall having a mini marshmellow spitting contest. Yuck, what were we thinking? Oh ya, we weren’t! </p>
<p>I used five bags of strawberry Twizzlers for packing. They were on sale at Kroger for only a $1.00 a bag.</p>
<p>I send both my boys the usual snack items, but I may take a prize for the most unusual thing sent from home–a box of 5 (five) ties. </p>
<p>S2 mentioned he needed to “dress up” more often because of fraternity and other events, and I knew he only had one tie with him, so rather than go to a department store and buy a tie he may or may not like, I went to the thrift store and got 5 of them for a couple bucks apiece. Some serious, some amusing & “conversational.” I figured, if he didn’t like half of them I was still ahead.</p>
<p>He emailed me “Thanks for the ties. They made my day.”</p>
<p>Just thought of something I include in all packages: a scratch-off lottery card geared toward the nearest upcoming holiday. I’ve got my Halloween game card ready to go!</p>
<p>I found a new thing this weekend - wipeable markers that write on glass (OK, I don’t get out much) - something to write messages on dorm room windows in multiple colors.</p>
<p>Our entire household excels in silly. Of <em>course</em> we put silly into our care packages. We would suffer our D’s disappointment if we didn’t.</p>
<p>At the risk of outing myself as an Infrequent Care Package Sender, what is the best cost-effective shipping method for baked goods (specifically brownies)? Is overnight necessary?</p>
<p>Now, honest, this isn’t really my first care package for my sophomore S. But the first term, we could drive them as he was relatively nearby due to Katrina; at Tulane, I used some of the local vendors who delivered; and this year at JHU, DH carried some lemon squares when he drove down for a business thing and visited. Whew! I don’t want to totally get a reputation ;).</p>
<p>There were prior posts in this thread talking about including slices of white bread and/or plain (unsalted, unbuttered) popcorn. I didn’t pay much attention because I don’t even have a functioning oven at this point (will replace it before S comes home at winter break–he & sister love baking holiday cookies together. If you scroll thru the thread, I’m sure you’ll find the info.</p>
<p>The flat-rate box with USPS is great at $8.10, but if you want it to get there sooner than 3+ days, you may wish to use another method. So far, I’ve only used the flat rate box from HI–we don’t have very good rates for UPS & other services from HI.</p>
<p>Thanks, HImom. I saved the info about a lice of bread, but it didn’t say anything about shipping methods. (Of course, I don’t have any white bread in the house. Think whole wheat will do ;)?)</p>
<p>I send my daughter “monthly” flannel jammie pants. They’re easy to make, and because they have a drawstring, I don’t have to worry about fit (I don’t think she’s gained the freshman 15 but don’t know for sure). In September, I sent pants with an apple pattern; October’s were rainbow pants in honor of GLBT History month; November’s (mailed today) are covered in an autumn leaves pattern.</p>
<p>When I mentioned I would do this BEFORE she left for college, I was the recipient of an eye-roll. Now that she’s at school (and wears them to her 8:00 class), she looks forward to the package. And now that I know she’s wearing them to class, I’m making a hoodie or a Polarfleece pullover to match; who says you can’t make a fashion statement while wearing jammies?!</p>
<p>Wow, Mezzomom, will you be my mom & send me clothes too? So nice of you to make these loving gifts for your D. I bought S some fabric I was going to use to make him a comforter with but he balked & said he didn’t want it, so I have the fabric lying around the house unused. Will have to figure out what I want to do with it.
Actually, I think white bread might be better, as it seems more “plastic” & softer & believe it might have some preservatives or other things in it that help keep things “fresher.” I believe some folks sent their brownies express/overnight while others sent them via the flat-rate box 1st thing Monday morning (you wouldn’t want them to arrive over the weekend & SIT). Your kiddo is very lucky you’re sending such a loving gift as well.</p>
<p>wow this is amazing, i was never sent a care package from home but they sound great :)</p>
<p>the softball team ‘sold’ care packages during finals which my parents would always purchase one and the softball team would deliver it to your door. there were always a lot of goodies in there - chips, candy, toys, etc.</p>
<p>HIMom, LOL! I really thought I would start sewing for myself once my daughter was in college, but I keep finding ways to put that off. I think I’m just not ready to face the reality that I’m not the same size I was 18 years ago (when I last sewed for myself)! And I’m VERY lucky that my daughter doesn’t mind home-sewn clothes. When I was her age, I would have rather died than wear something my mom sewed, but my daughter absolutely detests shopping so she’d much rather wear what I make than have to set foot in a store.</p>
<p>I just bought a Trader Joe’s gift card to send… S’s at a school with no real meal plan… its a buy as you go deal… so even though I know that I’m paying either way… I thought maybe by sending Trader Joe’s, he’d be inclined to buy some fresh fruit or veggies… or maybe even a chicken breast he can use on his (contraband) Foreman grill. </p>
<p>I sent him a card that made fun of the way people who work at fancy coffee shops (ie Starbucks), think they’re important because they can say “large” in Italian (I guess you had to see the joke) with a $5 bill telling him to treat himself to a cup on me… </p>
<p>I sent a photo of our dog in a Halloween costume.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, and the aforementioned Foreman grill! </p>
<p>I’ve had some books/dvds ordered from Amazon & sent to him, too.</p>
<p>Son never comes home but we are close enough to attend his concerts. I brought some home baked treats to Wed Jazz concert.
Got lazy/busy this week and didn’t get a chance to send a goody box for Halloween-did a lazy phone $ transfer to his checking acct.- at least I know it will be used.
What happend to all the time I thought I was going to have to sew, cook, & knit when the kid was gone?</p>
<p>the “lame” halloween decorations leftover from the 80s that my mom gave me have really brightened up my apartment, plus they give all my friends something to laugh at when they come over :)</p>
Will have to figure out what I want to do with it.