peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
Posts: 3,842 
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Post by peppermintpatty on Jul 6, 2016 17:14:37 GMT
I am going to put a care package together for my dd who is starting college this year. I am going to pack it and take it with us when we take her and then leave it but not tell her ahead of time. She leaves August 11. Any suggestions? She will be 3 hours away from home and is already nervous.
I already have the candy stuff down and she loves Nightmare Before Christmas so I got her some cool pillowcases. She loves to read but she is taking 18 credits and I know will not have a lot of down time. I would have to research books.
TIA
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,618
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Jul 6, 2016 17:15:57 GMT
Fun things to decorate her room and her door; snacks to share. No better way to meet people than offer them food!
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Post by cindyupnorth on Jul 6, 2016 17:27:40 GMT
there has been quite a few threads on here about care packages. Do a search. Don't bother sending quarters for laundry. HA. I always just sent my dd's favorite snacks.
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Post by 950nancy on Jul 6, 2016 17:31:44 GMT
A few gift cards for local eateries. Dorm food is generally bland.
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Post by LilyRose on Jul 6, 2016 17:36:08 GMT
Along with the actual items, here's another thought that my mom did for me 26 years ago when I went to college: have loved ones each choose an item to include and write a little note. My grandparents, parents and brother each wrote a note and and included a small wrapped item. I was supposed to open something if I was feeling homesick. I can't really remember most of the items, although I know it was my grandma's famous homemade cookies, and someone did a small bottle of perfume. I do recall that my dad's note mentioned being glad to have the shower we shared all to himself (I was infamous for leaving behind an array of products). Luckily, I never got homesick, so it took a while to get through them.
Possible items might be a lipstick or fun pair of socks? Nothing big, since dorm room space is so limited.
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Post by padresfan619 on Jul 6, 2016 17:39:24 GMT
Fuzzy socks were my favorite gift in college. I never lived in the dorms but my apartment was always cold. My mom also sent me a succulent that still lives with me to this day. It was a low maintenance plant that didn't need much sunlight or water. I love that thing!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 0:30:10 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2016 17:44:26 GMT
My mom put together a basket with my favorite lotions, facial care products and a nail clipper set. It came in handy because inevitably when I ran out of one of those items that I brought with me, I was too busy to run out and buy more. Mom's basket to the rescue! It was nice to know I had a stash on hand.
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Post by Patter on Jul 6, 2016 20:47:02 GMT
A few gift cards for local eateries. Dorm food is generally bland. This! My girls LOVE getting care packages with gift cards to Subway, Chick-Fil-A, and Starbucks. The university food is awful! |
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Post by debmast on Jul 6, 2016 21:11:13 GMT
A few gift cards for local eateries. Dorm food is generally bland. This! My girls LOVE getting care packages with gift cards to Subway, Chick-Fil-A, and Starbucks. The university food is awful! I also agree with gift cards! Also a note from mom. I always put a note in care packages to my DD |
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Post by gorgeouskid on Jul 6, 2016 21:28:12 GMT
Colorful pens and highlighters
Cute post-it notes and flags in all sorts of colors
A hot pot with soups for her room (if she doesn't have already)
Tumbler (with Starbuck's gift card)
Lotion
Shower gel
Nail polish/remover
Novelty bandaids
Razors
Shower poof
Hair ties/barettes
Small frame with new photo of you
Lip gloss or chapstick
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Post by deekaye on Jul 6, 2016 21:31:19 GMT
I've had two daughters go through Dorms and they've always loved: Fuzzy Socks. Gift cards, especially places like Starbucks. Seasonal decorations for the windows and their doors (think cheap because they'll get tossed after the season. No place to store). Post-its in fun design/color (or seasonal). Index cards in fun colors, if this is something they use (one daughter did, one daughter didn't). Chap sticks/lip balms (both went to college in cold winter climates), Favorite snacks/treats, especially special things that can only be gotten at "home" (used to send special mints made locally). Individual packets of drink mix, like crystal light, for their water bottles. Money!!  Handwritten notes, or even better, handwritten letters! It is sooooo rare to get a long handwritten letter. They loved it! Strings of lights to hang in their rooms. These come in lots of holiday colors/designs. A pair of undies with goofy sayings/designs or even holiday undies....'just to make them smile! Smelly stuff like potpourri or those beads that smell good (from Yankee Candle). No candles; fire is prohibited in dorms! And of course, a cute little tin or dish to put said potpourri or smelly beads in. |
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all4fun
Shy Member
Posts: 38
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Post by all4fun on Jul 6, 2016 22:06:50 GMT
My DS is a rising sophomore in college. When he was a freshman last year, the other moms and I would get together each month for a packing party. Each mom was responsible for bringing multiples of one item for each of the boys. So, if eight moms were going to attend they would bring eight of one item. It could be a gc, a package of beef jerky, a mini first aid kit or anything! We had a price limit for the item. This helps so much in the decision making process and the time it takes to gather individual goodies. The hostess provided the shipping box and we would each put our item in each box and sign the inside of the box with a sweet or silly note. This gave our sons a fun care package each month and it gave us moms an opportunity to sip wine and visit. The boys AND the moms looked forward to it every month!
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Post by 950nancy on Jul 6, 2016 22:09:43 GMT
A few gift cards for local eateries. Dorm food is generally bland. This! My girls LOVE getting care packages with gift cards to Subway, Chick-Fil-A, and Starbucks. The university food is awful! My kid was only 20 minutes away from home in the dorms and he still called me to take him to lunch on Thursdays. It was just a 45 minute quick chat, but it was great to get him to myself. |
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edie3
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,476
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Post by edie3 on Jul 6, 2016 22:11:35 GMT
for St Patricks Day, I put together a box filled with green stuff; fun socks, snacks in green packages, green duct tape, green post it notes, green highlighters etc. You could do this for several holidays, red for valentines, pastels for Easter or spring, red white and blue for Election Day. Oh, and yellow items for sending you smiles.
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melissa
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,912
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Post by melissa on Jul 7, 2016 1:56:00 GMT
One of my dd's all time favorite care packages includes the ingredients for S'mores. Always a big hit! Maybe something to send later on during the year.
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leeny
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,637
Location: Northern California
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 1:55:53 GMT
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Post by leeny on Jul 7, 2016 2:34:08 GMT
A little bag with a few tools (hammer, etc), command strips and those sorts of things. This past year I sent my niece a monthly treat from Cheryls.com. She enjoyed getting something in her mail box at school each month.
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Post by mlynn on Jul 7, 2016 8:48:55 GMT
High protein snacks for those late night study sessions. Cafeterias are only open certain hours.
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Post by Patter on Jul 7, 2016 10:23:01 GMT
This! My girls LOVE getting care packages with gift cards to Subway, Chick-Fil-A, and Starbucks. The university food is awful! I also agree with gift cards! Also a note from mom. I always put a note in care packages to my DD On the subject of notes--yep, always include them in boxes and send cards. But another thing I do is when I go to visit and as I leave, I hide a note in/on their desk. They find it after I leave, and it is always a hit! One DD keeps them stacked on her desk and re-reads them. They find them encouraging and helps when they miss home. |
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
Posts: 3,842
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Post by peppermintpatty on Jul 7, 2016 15:57:16 GMT
It's funny..I came home from work and got the mail. There was a letter from the University and the care package program that they have set up for the kids to get them throughout the year. They mainly fill it with candy but they really piled on the guilt telling you that your child will be heartbroken if they are the only one's not getting one of these care packages. My dd laughed and said that I could come up with way better ideas than that!
Thanks for the suggestions.
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Post by Patter on Jul 7, 2016 16:21:19 GMT
It's funny..I came home from work and got the mail. There was a letter from the University and the care package program that they have set up for the kids to get them throughout the year. They mainly fill it with candy but they really piled on the guilt telling you that your child will be heartbroken if they are the only one's not getting one of these care packages. My dd laughed and said that I could come up with way better ideas than that! Thanks for the suggestions. Oh yes. I did that care package once for my girls. They brought the boxes home so I could see. It was terrible, and not much my girls cared for. They loved the thought but also knew mama would want to save money if they weren't going to eat what was inside. They do like my boxes and surprises better. |
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Post by BoilerUp! on Jul 7, 2016 16:58:49 GMT
It's funny..I came home from work and got the mail. There was a letter from the University and the care package program that they have set up for the kids to get them throughout the year. They mainly fill it with candy but they really piled on the guilt telling you that your child will be heartbroken if they are the only one's not getting one of these care packages. My dd laughed and said that I could come up with way better ideas than that! Thanks for the suggestions. I got this same notice from the University my son is attending this fall. I plan on sending my own care packages for him, but I too chuckled at them trying to guilt parents into purchasing from them. They wanted $160 for 4-5 packages, but they decide what goes in it. For that amount of money, my son will get things that I KNOW he will want/eat/enjoy. I like the idea of sending a monthly package that another mom previously mentioned. |
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Post by Susie_Homemaker on Jul 7, 2016 17:11:08 GMT
I don't know what she's taking with her but two things that my now college Jr. appreciated having were a medicine kit with all of the basics in it (Pepto, allergy med, cough/cold med, band-aids, neosporin, etc...). She was glad that she also had a small tool kit with a hammer, screw driver, tape, razor etc. in it. All of the roommates ended up using it.
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