Welcome!

Hey there! I'm Kristen and I thought that I would start this blog as a way to help me pass time while my husband is deployed and also share my ideas with everyone else. We live in NC and have two handsome boys - 4 years (Landon) and 4 months (Mason). 

My husband just deployed (on Valentine's Day no less!) and so I have been brainstorming care packages. I had to send one out on the day he left because he forgot quite a bit of stuff/it wouldn't fit in his bag.  I was able to write a little note, but felt rushed and hated sending such a "boring" package.  So, I turned to trusty Pinterest for ideas and inspiration! 

When I sent care packages in the past, I sent the thin rectangular flat rate boxes (you know, the ones that have the self adhesive strip on both sides). The other night I came across a pin where the pinner had decorated the inside of the box (the large flat rate boxes - they need tape to close)! I wish I had thought of such a brilliant idea!

So, since Saint Patty's Day is the next holiday coming up, I was inspired by yet another pin to make an all green care package. I am no spectacular artist, but I decorated the box with shamrocks (pretty pathetic looking ones), a rainbow (and a pot of gold - heart shaped!), and a beer mug. I wrote "Happy St. Patty's Day!" "Cheers!" and "Pot Full of Love!" On the left are all the green things I am going to attempt to fit into the box: 

• 3 Utz chips bags
• 1 Pringles can
• Nature's Valley granola bars 
• Quaker Oatmeal cookies box
• Goldfish bag
• Individual Kool Aid packs (add to a water bottle)
• Green toothbrush
• Hand sanitizer with green gummy holder
• Clorox wipes
• Q-tips
• Sunflower seeds
• Mike & Ikes
• Pop Rocks
• Gummy Bears (which my son opened, so that is one less thing to worry about)
• 3 Packs of gum
• Wintergreen mints (makes everything smell like them, yum!)
• Green olives (a cute little pack of a few olives)
• Crackers
• Monopoly card game
• Mouthwash
• ...and maybe a few things I can't remember

On the right are the non-green things: two candles (he has a stinky room apparently), two magazines, a cord for his external hard drive, and cards from me and the boys. I will post a picture once I pack everything and see if I have any leftovers. Let the game begin!


...and the result:

I couldn't fit: 2 Utz bags, 1 granola bar and 2 packs of cookies. I also added another card filled with pictures, but that was easy to fit on the side. Pretty happy I made most of it fit! Look for the next care package game in a week or two! :)