5 Tips to Make the Best Care Packages!

5 Tips for Making the Best Care Packages

My husband has been deployed to Afghanistan for almost four months now, and I have sent many care packages to him. I am totally obsessed with decorating them, finding things to send him, and most importantly sending my love to my husband half way around the world. I am not claiming by any means to be a pro at doing these boxes, but I just figured I would share some of the things that I have learned while doing them.

1. Use the flat rate boxes, especially when shipping overseas. I always use the large flat rate boxes. You can pick up the boxes at your local post office or you can order them online. I ordered the APO/FPO boxes that are designed for the military. Here is a link to order them: Ordering USPS APO/FPO Flat Rate Boxes
2. Choose a theme. I always have a specific theme for each box that I send. I have done many themes involving holidays, but I also have done some that are specific to what my husband likes, or current events that are happening in my life. My goal is to post all of the different boxes that I have put together and what I included in each of them, so keep on the lookout!
3. Decorate your box! This is probably one of my favorite parts of doing the boxes. It can also be the most time consuming, but I have figured out a couple of things that help. First, I realized that scrapbook paper fits almost perfectly on each side of the large flat rate boxes. You will just need to cut off a little off of the top and side to make it fit perfectly. The best thing about using scrapbook paper is that there are so many different designs and colors that you can make each box unique.
4. Choose things to send that are specific to the person you are sending the box to. There are many ideas online of things to send, but my biggest suggestion is to figure out what the person you are sending the box to wants. One of my husband's favorite presents included undershirts and socks. I guess it's the little things that they miss the most. Other things that are big hits over there are beef jerkey, the individual coffee packets, and homemade cookies or treats.
5. Pack the box as full as you can. This may sound wierd, but the more empty space there is in the box, the more things will shift and risk breaking. I will pack the boxes so full that I have to close them by pushing them against a wall! Many people say not to ship breakable things, but I have sent multiple things that are breakable and not one has broken yet. The key is to wrap it in bubble wrap (the more the better), then put it in the middle of other things that can provide a little cushion for it. I would suggest making sure that the breakable things are away from the sides of the boxes because those boxes get thrown around all the time.

So, those are my 5 tips to making the best care packages. I will be posting each box that I have sent to my husband and things that I have learned along the way.


Until next time.... Have fun and stay safe out there!!!!

Valentine's Care Package

So it has been awhile since my first post, and I have a lot of things that I want to post, so I just need to get this ball rolling!

My husband was in Texas for his training before his deployment for two months. I only sent him one package while he was over there, which was a Valentines themed package. I got a little carried away with this one because I didn't have to send it all in a flat rate box.

I had a lot of fun putting this box together. Here are the contents of the box (a detailed list of things are below):

Here is everything packed in the one huge box:

Here is everything that this box had:

• Oatmeal cookies (his request - I made a double batch since my husband was in a huge room with about 15 other guys)
• Maxim and ESPN magazines
• Dollar Store decorations: Gel Clings
• "Smack-a-pack" / "Whack-a-pack" - I found these things at the dollar store and the dollar section at Target. The boys had a bunch of fun hitting them and watching them "explode" :)
• A hand warmer in the shape of a heart
• A pack of Valentine Kisses for my husband to hand out to the guys for Valentines Day
• Hot and Spicy Cheeze-It's and Tomato Basil Wheat Thins for a couple of my husband's friends (I over heard them talking about them one day while Skyping with my husband - and I thought that it would be a great surprise for them)
• A bunch of snacks with lovey-dovey sayings written on heart shaped post-its and attached to the snacks:
• Popcorn: "I love you so much, it feels like my heart is about to pop!"
• Pop Rocks: "You rock my world"
• Trail Mix: "I'd be so mixed up without you."
• Monster Energy Drink: "You are a moster in bed."
• Diet Coke: " I soda think that you are amazing."
• Orange Crush Soda: " I have a crush on you."
• Mixed Nuts: "I'm nuts about you!"
• Life Saver Mints: " I mint to tell you sooner, but you are my life saver."
• Reeses Pieces: "You will always have a piece of my heart."
• Gum: "I'm stuck on you."
• Honey Nut Chex Mix: "You got the kiss that tastes like honey..." (a lyric from a song)
• Sweedish Fish: "You o'fish'ally have my heart."
• Sugar Babies: "Give me some sugar, baby."
• Blow Pops: "Baby you blow my mind!"
• Hot Tamales: "Baby you are one hot tamale!"
• Combos Snacks: "You and I make a great combo."

Well, that was my first care package! I think that the best part was getting to Skype with him while he opened the box and see his reaction to all of the gifts. It makes it totally worth it!!!! He loved it, and I loved that he loved it! :)


Until next time....... Be safe out there!!!