Care Packages

Opening the mail just isn't as fun as it once was . . . bills, credit card offers that fill my shredder, newspaper ads from stores I never visit.

I remember being at Iowa State and getting that little slip of paper in my mailbox every so often telling me to stop by and pick up a package-a much needed box from little Laurie.

My mom always knew just what I needed - unexpected little goodies:
Mac & Cheese, Rice Crispy Treats
Holiday decorations for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day
Basically stocking stuffers for any occasion.

She even sent Mark care packages while he was in Rome for a semester.

At this time of year I always think a lot about college. Good times . . . but I'd never go back!

Most appreciated care package items for college students (or anyone):

• Stamps
• Quarters for Laundry
• Recipes (family favorites) + some of the ingredients
• Coffee or hot chocolate packets (& marshmallows)
• Lined pads of paper with magnets to stick on the fridge
• Chip clips
• Post-it Notes & Tape Flags
• Gum
• Goldfish crackers
• Monster cookies
• A handwritten note
• Microwave popcorn (Mark's making some right now)
• Pictures from when you were a kid
• New socks
• Nail polish / nail file / toe separators
• Chapstick or lip gloss
• Deodorant
• Favorite magazines
• A basic cookbook
• A mixed tape (okay dating myself - I mean, CD)
• Multivitamins to avoid the flu
• Throat lozenges for when they forget to take multivitamin
• Granola bars
• Peanuts
• Wasabi peas