<p>I’m sending one to my son and another to his cousin on Monday by USPS. Those flat-rate boxes really hold a lot and one might as well fill them up. I’ve made some nut brittle and bought some locally made chocolates. Will make chocolate chip dried cherry cookies just before sending. Some hot chocolate mixes, some milk packs to have with their cookies, a Valentine for each and there’s still more room. Any suggestions of favorite things you’ve given or received?</p>
<p>DS loves jars of Nutella and plain cookies and little plastic knives. He keeps them in dorm room and makes snacks.</p>
<p>His fav. Tootsie roll pops, which admittedly are not exciting, make a good late night study companion because they keep kids’ mouths wet in very dry dorm environments. </p>
<p>Have sent those; also because they’re colorful and silly.</p>
<p>These are not as elegant as your baked good and hand made chocolates. DS is a philistine! When I send batches of homemade goodies he shares all with his entry and puts them out. This is good and nice, but when I send nutella and tootsie pops he keeps them in room, which is nice too.</p>
<p>Nutella is a great idea–my son loves that!</p>
<p>I am sending a Frango raspberry chocolate cake with Valentine’s plates from the dollar store (so she’ll share!), a box of Harry & David truffles, a pink shower scrubber on a stick, heart shaped Junior Mints, a Starbuck’s gift card, and some Orbitz gum. I also plan to pick up a couple little items when I stop by the dollar store to pick up the plates. I will also include a couple of the new CD’s from her favorite indie musicians that just came out … I came online to get Borders and B&N coupons so I can go buy those CDs. </p>
<p>I didn’t know UPS has flat rate boxes. I am going on their website now to check them out!</p>
<p>No, it’s USPS (United States Postal Service) that has the flat rates boxes. They have also given fastest service so far.</p>
<p>No wonder I couldn’t find flat rate box (domestic) on the UPS site just now! For D, cost depends … sometimes UPS is best, sometimes USPS. This time, USPS wins out!</p>
<p>I’d like to hear more about this cake kelsmom. Are you making it or ordering it?</p>
<p>DH has always given flowers to his girls, but having them delivered by a florist just feels too expensive- in keeping with the floral theme, the far away girl got a Chia Pet this year ;)</p>
<p>I love making cakes, but I didn’t make this one. I happened to be in Macy’s when their after-holiday sale was underway. All the fancy food gifts were 80% off, so I picked up the cake. There is a “Best by” date on the box, so I knew that it would be fresh for 2 months after Valentine’s Day … and knowing my D, it won’t last more than 2 hours after she receives it!! The box is red velvet, and there is a pretty white bow … but what really caught my eye was the description & picture on the accompanying tag. D got her love of chocolate from her mom … and it is a sacrifice for me to send it to her!! The truth is, I could have bought one for myself, but I was able to control myself.</p>
<p>While searching for new CD’s from D’s favorite artists, I stumbled on a terrific gift just now. Ari Hest, a great independent musician, dumped his label and has come up with a cool new project. He is offering a new track each week for a year. For $20, D can not only get new music from a favorite artist each week … but she will be reminded of how much her mom & dad love & miss her each time she does so! Check it out at arihest.com.</p>
<p>somemon - LOL at the Chia Pet. Won’t they be surprised!</p>
<p>This is a good thread to keep handy for care package ideas.</p>
<p>I sent honey bells to my son. If any of you followed this thread:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/430188-looking-healthy-food-send.html?highlight=healthy[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/430188-looking-healthy-food-send.html?highlight=healthy</a></p>
<p>I sent Honey Bells from Hales (they called to reorder at half price + shipping).
I also just sent a Valentine’s Day card along with a small monetary gift.</p>
<p>Usually we go the healthy route, but this is more of a wheeeee-candy! holiday in our house, so - DEFINITELY using the flat-rate priority box from USPS - I sent my D and her blockmates tons of heart-shaped Peeps, a couple of bags of Sees’ dark chocolate hearts, a dozen Reese’s hearts, York’s heart-shaped boxes of chocolate-covered mints, and a dozen little boxes of conversation hearts. Knowing my kid she’ll happily share everything, as intended, with the possible exception of the Peeps. But not so much because they’re her favorite, but because of the high likelihood that the boys will microwave them. . . . :D</p>
<p>Ah, such a good girl, sacrificing to save the little chicks! :)</p>
<p>If you’re just looking for space fillers, my friend’s mom recently sent me a care package that also had a few hand towels in it. Kind of quirky, but definitely necessary!</p>
<p>If your son has a good sense of humor you could always toss a goofy stuffed animal in there. Always fun to receive.</p>
<p>College kids have endless uses for solo cups, dice, and cards. Most of them are frowned upon by the adult population though.</p>
<p>Or instead of getting him more stuff he might not use, you could just throw in a few $1!!! Probably would make good packing materials. What college kid doesn’t want more cash?!</p>
<p>Last year I sent my kids Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies and they really liked them. I put them in a plastic food container in layers, and I put valentine stickers on the paper between the layers and on the outside of the box. I am planning to make them again tomorrow and mail on Monday. If anyone wants the recipe, I will be glad to share. </p>
<p>PS My daughter has had the flu or a similar bad virus since Tuesday, and I was wondering if she would even be able to enjoy the cookies. It really hit her hard, but she seems to be on the mend now. Is there a lot of illness at your kids’ colleges now?</p>
<p>motheroftwo, I don’t know about the illnesses, but my son was sick this week with bronchitis. He seems to be getting better. He’s been sick since last Wednesday.</p>
<p>I am glad he is getting better. Apparently, even the doctor at the infirmary at my daughter’s school was sick on Friday :eek: and was not available to see students.</p>
<p>Thanks. I am glad that your daughter is feeling better too.</p>
<p>bethie - I couldn’t believe it; I barely made the 5PM closing of our local post office Thursday afternoon to send Valentine’s Day packages to my daughters. I chose Priority Mail so they’d get there by next Tuesday or Wednesday. D2 in Allentown (we’re in Chicago) called today to say she had a note in her mailbox at school that they have a package for her from me. The school post office isn’t open on Saturday, so that package HAD to have been delivered on Friday, about 24 hours after I sent it.</p>
<p>I think girls are easier to get stuff for. Both mine are going to warm climates for spring break, so I sent some lotions, lip screen, after-sun moisturizers, etc. to take with them; also some cute sheep eyemasks to block out the light (great for trying to sleep when it’s bright out, or on airplanes).</p>