<p>^^^fabulous idea, marigold. Thanks. I had to check the drawer to make sure she hadn't already "borrowed" my apple slicer when she left. It's her favorite kitchen gadget. I'll send the apple box next month.</p>
<p>I borrowed this idea from an earlier thread on this topic: I just sent a plastic popcorn bowl, some packages of microwave popcorn and some cute cocktail napkins.....</p>
<p>NorthMinn's response is the best way to go. Make them up and you have a better shot at sending stuff that is useful. Plus it can be varied. Food type stuff with say a Dunkin Donut or Starbucks card. Also some schools provide options at particular times (move in, valentines, final exams, etc).</p>
<p>I looked at a couple of those sites and my thought was my son would be embarassed by the fancy packaging, so just made my own.</p>
<p>so far I've sent two care packages---sunglasses he left home, starbucks chocolate, miso soup packets, special bookmark, capuccino packs, biscotti, (nope not homemade) highlighters, bandaids, small pack of cleaning wipes (they have a sink in their dorm) -- kind of random items, but things that I knew he could use. he loved it.'</p>
<p>he did however ask for homebaked brownies or cookies before he left so I will do that this weekend...I find it helps me when I just feel his not being here to go to target and "shop" for him...</p>
<p>marigold, I love the apples and caramel dip idea! You can order those flat rate priority shipping boxes free from the USPS website. They deliver them to you (you have to order ten). Then you can even pay the postage online, print out your shipping label, and arrange for your carrier to pick up the package the next day, at no extra charge.</p>
<p>I've mentioned this in another thread w/ a similar topic, but ... USPS may, or may not, be the way to ship stuff, depending on where you are and where the package is going. For me (CT) to send a box of goodies to D (in NC) I use UPS because I know the regular ground service will absolutely get there in 2 days. The one time I used USPS Priority Mail, to get the free box, it took 4 days and cost about the same, if not more. The key to packing/shipping anything, included baked goods, is to be sure nothing moves around in the box, once it's all sealed up. I usually use plastic wrap to make stacks of 5-6 cookies/brownies that are tightly wrapped. The stacks are surrounded with lots of padding/peanuts/whatever so they don't move at all in the shipping box. Result to date? No crumbs.</p>
<p>Love the apples idea. What fun!</p>
<p>We even stuffed a sleeping bag into a USPS flat-rate box last year. My husband picks up a bunch of them every so often, so we're ready whenever I have a chance to bake. The price is right ($8.95) from CT to AZ and usually only takes two days. I've heard that there is also a second, larger size available for $11.95?</p>
<p>A friend of mine gets together once a month with a group of mom's with college kids. They each bring several dozen of one thing - cookies, brownies, whatever, and share them. Then each packs a flat rate box with an assortment of the goodies and drops them at the PO on the way home. This gives the mom's a fun regular get-together and the kids get a variety of treats.</p>
<p>^^^bingle, this is brilliant. My book group has been meeting since D1 was four, and started as a group of friends with four-year-olds who also happen to like to escape from them through reading. The kids all went to college this fall. This would be a great add-on to one of our book group meetings!</p>
<p>We live overseas so cant send baked goods. Last year I used netgrocer.com to send goodies for exams - much cheaper than sites that sold care packages and I could order exactly what my child likes to munch on. I also sent starbucks gift cards, holiday stuff from drugstore.com and leonidas chocolates from one of the amazon.com sites.</p>