Favorite Things Care Package

This holiday season on Army Wife Network, we are sharing a few of our favorite things.

I love favorite things. There is something about Christmas—maybe it’s the Christmas songs and the gift-giving—that always gets me thinking about sharing. One of the most memorable gifts I was ever given was from someone who gathered up all of their favorite little things and gave them to me. Not only did I get to know this person better through their gesture, but I got all sorts of fun little “try me” samples of some really fun stuff!

I love gifts with thought, don’t you?

The AWN Core Team works as hard as elves to deliver resources, information, and friendship (those are definitely gifts!) to our military families all year long. Each year, I struggle with what to do for them that will show how much I appreciate them and love them for everything they give. This year, I thought I’d do what that special someone did for me and gather up and share some of my favorite things.

I sat down to make my list when I realized, they were a few of my favorite things. I couldn’t very well fit them into a box. I know it’s flat rate and all, but come on—there are no air holes! A little Christmas bulb popped on in my head and—voila!—I had an idea. I would share their favorite things among all of us. That way, we all got to know each other a little bit better, we all shared something together, and we all got goodies!

What’s not to love?

So many times, we share care package ideas for our service members or for certain holidays, but this time I’m sharing with you what I put together for our team. Feel free to adapt the idea for teams of your own: coworkers, FRGs, spouse groups, and more. I hope you have fun with it!

First, I emailed the team and asked each of them to provide one of their favorite things—something useful, something they couldn’t live without, something they L-O-V-E-D. It didn’t matter as long as it represented them, and it was under five dollars—there are eight of them you know? I don’t have Oprah’s budget. This could have gotten expensive!

Here were their choices:

• Tara: SKOY reusable paper towels
• Star: Good Housekeeping magazine
• Emily: Water with Crystal Light Strawberry
• Kowanda: Organix’s Moroccan Argan Oil
• Paula: Starbucks
• Corrie: Post-It notes
• Janet: Nestle’s peppermint mocha creamer
• Kristen: ELF Makeup Brush
• Malori: EOS Mint Lip balm
• And a special bonus Christmas Cup

I spent a day or so collecting all of the goodies, then my girls and I went to work packing up the sleigh (otherwise known as the grocery-getter, swagger wagon, or soccer mom mobile) with packages ready to ship out all over the world. Seriously, Kowanda is in Italy and Emily is in Korea!

We had such a blast. We tried to put the package together like a gift bag but realized quickly we needed an alternate plan due to it being, well, packed. So, we chose to wrap some of our pieces like candy. That way opening the package would be so sweet. (Yes, pun intended.)

Complete the project with a sweet little note and you’ve got yourself a favorite things package!

Happy Holidays!