My Version of the OCC Simple Basic Shoe Box

Hello Packers!

     So, if you are new to Operation Christmas Child, WELCOME! We need as many generous packers like yourself in our organization and greatly appreciate all you have to offer. So, with that being said, I have set out a list of the Simple Basic Shoe Box items that you can use as a foundation for what goes in your shoe box. This is all based on my opinion and don't take it to heart if you haven't included these things or not, this is just what I think would be a good basis for your shoe box goodies.

Hygiene

     Items for hygiene are great in shoe boxes because we don't know if they are able to easily find toothpaste, tooth brushes or for a comb for that matter. Here is a list that I try to include in every box.

-Toothbrush (with a toothbrush case)
-Toothpaste
-Soap
-Wash Cloth
-Comb (Great for both genders)
-Deodorant (for 5-9 and 10-14 kids)
-Chap Stick

School Supplies

     I read somewhere that school supplies are the greatest items to include in a shoe box because these kids sometimes will skip school because they don't have supplies to go and help them learn. Some orphanages only give their kids two pencils to last the entire year. Education is incredibly important to those over here at Shoebox Loving and we love to include as much as we can.

-Notebook (Smaller ones for 2-4 year old children)
-Pens
-Pencils
-Pencil Sharpener
-Erasers
-Crayons

Clothing

     Clothing can make a world of difference to a child. I remember when I was a kid, even now, a new shirt or new pair of jeans made me feel confident and attractive. When a kid gets a new shirt, especially in those conditions, that is a shirt that can make them warm, give them confidence among their friends, maybe give them bravery to go to church and maybe be the one thing that answers their prayers.

-Shirt
-Socks

SOMETHING FUN!

     As we grow older we start to lose sight of all the fun things we enjoyed when we were younger like board games, playing with dolls and stuffed animals but we need to realize that those memories we have...these kids might not have had the opportunity to experience those types of memories yet. Imagine going back to your childhood of playing in dress up clothing and then it just disappearing, it sucks and that's why it is always important that while you include the basics, be sure to include something fun.

-Stuffed animal (for all ages)
-Coloring Book (for all ages)

     Now, like I said, this is the layout for a simple basic shoe box. The rest is up to you as some items are different regarding gender and age group and who knows what God is telling you to include in those boxes. These are just some ideas that I hope you take into consideration during your packing season.

Happy Packing!

2-4 Boys Box

Hello Packers!

     In celebration of finishing my applications to universities, I decided it would be a good idea to pack a box. I love packing boxes as a reward because I just love to do it. It is a "hobby" I just can't crack. Now, what I want you all to know as I pack up these boxes throughout the year is that when it comes to the inclusion of items in the boxes, I can take up to around 20 minutes on each of my boxes just by finding the right things to go in them. I know that there are speed packing games for OCC boxes and some people just throw stuff in them but these boxes, to me, should be put together with the child in mind. That's just a thought. Anyway, here is my 2-4 boy box!

     This is my box. I have used duct tape on the outside for decoration of course and if it looks small, it's because it is. This is a Shutterfly box that my family got my brother's graduation announcements in and the depth was enough so that I knew it could make a great box. So, this size of the box was a bit of a challenge regarding some of the toys I included but here is something great about the 2-4 year old boys, most of the things you put into their boxes are toys because they aren't in school yet. I don't know why this age/gender group is so under represented in the world of Operation Christmas Child because filling this box was a joy and with this age group, we don't need the solar calculator/deodorant/tools/notebooks(totally optional by the way) that we usually put in the older kids' boxes.

     These are the items I included in his box, it does look a lot less than my box for the 10-14 year old girl but these items take up a lot of space in that tiny box.

• Youth Size Tank Top ($1 clearance at Wal-Mart)
• Pumpkin Clapper (Around $0.06 on sale)
• Spider Man Pencil Pouch ($0.30 at Target Sale)
• Dog Beanie Baby ($2 at comic book store)
• Wash Cloth ($0.25 at Target Black Friday Sale)
• Spider Man Stickers (About $0.10 on sale)
• Transformers Stickers (About $0.07)
• Youth Medium Socks ($0.30 from Wal-Mart Black Friday Sale)
• Pencils ($0.30 from Dollar Tree)
• Pens ($0.50 from Dollar Tree/99 Cent Store)
• Pumpkin Cup ($1 from Target)
• Eraser ($0.11 from 99 Cent Store)
• Toothbrush ($0.25 from Dollar Tree)
• Toothbrush Holder ($0.50 from Dollar Tree)
• Toothpaste ($0.74 from WinCo)
• Soap ($0.33 from Dollar Tree)
• Little People Drawing Pad ($1 from 99 Cent Store)
• Crayons ($0.50 from Back to School Wal-Mart Sale)
• Pencil Eraser Toppers ( $0.15 from Dollar Tree)
• Motorcycle ($1 from Dollar Tree)
• Train Set ($1 from Dollar Tree)
• How to Train Your Dragon Color Pack ($1 from Target)
• Facial Tissue ($0.13 from Dollar Tree)
• Chapstick ($0.30)

(So, altogether it came out to approximately $12.89 for this one box. Considering this price, I'm OK with it. The Baking Box definitely came out to more than what I have here.)

 

     It was definitely a challenge. As you can see from the back that the Train Set had to go through some modifications to fit inside the box but it fits and this cute little boy will get an awesome train set that comes with 8 pieces of train track and a wind-up train. Everything ended up fitting in the box and there was little effort in putting the top of the box down so all in all this turned out to be such a great box. But something that is a bit of an issue is that there are still some spots in the box that are open and have nothing in them. 

    

     Bingo! I forgot a tote bag! So this $0.25 tote bag pushes my box price to an ending $13.14! This tote bag will look great holding all of his goodies! 

     Well Packers, this is just another example of the type of boxes I fill up for these kiddies and I pray that whomever receives this box will be happy and in good health.

Happy Packing!

2015 Black Friday Deals for OCC

Hello Packers!

     Did any of you packers go out and brave among the crazies to get some good deals at the stores today? Well, I was one of them and my only mindset for my shopping extravaganza was to get some really good deals for my boxes next year. I was quite impressed with my shopping deals and I hope I can include them in all of my boxes next year. With that being said, here are some of those deals that should be going on until tomorrow the 28th.

     Firstly I went to CVS Pharmacy for their Black Friday Deals and to be honest, they didn't have much. But some nice fleece throw blankets on sale for $2 each caught my eye. The first four from left to right came from a CVS next to my work, I go there often and had no idea that they were even going to have some sort of deal going on so that worked out to my advantage. The last one I just got today early in the morning. It was a good thing I did because there were no more throw blankets available for me to purchase. But still, thankfully I have five blankets for five lucky kids out there. 

     These socks came from Rite Aid which I might go back to tomorrow for the last day of their sale because it is buy one, get 2 free over at Rite Aid and they have some really nice socks on sale for mainly girls and I just can't ignore that offer so I ended up getting two pairs of fuzzy socks for my friends' Christmas gifts and then four pairs for my boxes. Unfortunately I'm limited at Rite Aid and can only take 2 sets of deals. I only paid $2 for the whole lot.

     I didn't plan on going to Toys R Us mainly because they are so expensive and really just not my place to go as I don't have any children of my own nor nieces, nephews etc. However, in their ad they had these Barbie Princess Petite dolls as shown and they were $5 each. Now, I'm not usually one to spend $5 on a doll but all I could think of was how the little girls receiving these boxes are going to be so happy to see these dolls and to get to play with them and their animal friend. Then, next to the dolls is one of my favorite items and that is play-Doh for $1. I have heard many mixed comments on Play-Doh in boxes and none of them really help me out at all if they are good or bad in boxes so until I see a notice from the head honchos of Operation Christmas Child, Play-Doh will remain one of my shoe box gifts.

     Finally, I ended up going to Wal-Mart on Thursday and also Friday and I'm glad I went Friday because the Wal-Mart I went to today had more variety in socks than the basic colors. Each pair of the socks was $3 and then the wash cloths shown are a pack of 6 for $1.60. I will tell you this so you don't go out and buy deals that actually aren't that good. Wal-Mart sells an 18 pack of wash cloths for $3.47 which beats the deal they have for Black Friday because with that price, it would cost $4.80 to meet the 18 wash cloth requirement. Save yourselves on this deal and get the 18 pack, it is so much cheaper.

     Alright Packers, I just wanted you all to know about some of the beneficial Black Friday deals they have going on right now. I hope you all have safe trips if you are driving or flying around and as always, Happy Packing!

Baking Box...What Was I Thinking?!

Hello Packers!

     Well, I found a theme that I wanted to try...right after the drop off week. Yeah, I don't know what was going through my head when I decided to take on this endeavor but here we go.

     

     

     So this is the haul for my baking box. Baking Boxes are filled for teenage girls that are going out into the world to create some sort of trade or simply have to take care of their children or siblings. I put in a baking pan (one big enough to make a loaf of bead), a spatula, a wooden stirring spoon, measuring cups with measuring spoons, towels, pot holders, a strainer and then the rest of my simple box items that I will include as a foundation for regular boxes for you guys to go off of later. 

     Along with the baking items I included all of these awesome items as well:

• Water Bottle
• Socks
• Journal
• Personal Pen
• Pens
• Pencils
• Eraser
• Pencil Top Erasers
• Purple T-shirt
• Head band
• Hair Ties
• Soap
• Magnet Doll Set 
• Stuffed Kitty Cat (Webkinz brand)
• Toothbrush
• Tooth Paste
• Notebook
• Pencil Case
• Pencil Sharpener
• A bookmark (I got them for FREE)
• A chap stick
• A coloring Book
• Crayons
• Deodorant
• A homemade No Sew Fleece Tote bag
• Facial Tissue

     I know, I know, WHAT WAS I THINKING?! This box was incredibly hard to pack because of that dang baking pan and water bottle but again, I love including a water bottle in my boxes no matter what so I just HAD to include it. Here's something I will tell you, if you are going to include as much as I did, find a box that is both wide and deep because mine was wide but not deep enough. This was it.

     It was a pretty good box when I found it in our house and of course, decorating the heck out of it with duct tape really did make it look better than it was and hopefully the duct tape will keep it together when it ships...next year...literally a year from now...oh goodness I have an OCCD thing going on now don't I? Well, this box was close to falling apart in the beginning so I'm glad I was able to salvage the dying cardboard.

     Look at this overly packed and possibly going to break box I have here! It took me close to 20 minutes to figure out how to pack everything in the box. I even considered putting it into another box! So after constantly putting the items in the box this way and that, I finally got everything into the box. Woohoo!

     This is the ending result after putting my shoe box together after placing the card on the inside. This box wouldn't close for the life of me! I couldn't stand the fact that it would not close so I grabbed my large bag of rubber bands, a JOT Brand bag of over 100 rubber bands that I got at the Dollar Tree and went insane on this box so that it would close! Some of the rubber bands are extremely long and some are extremely small. My first rubber band broke because it wouldn't go all the way around so I searched for the long ones. Bam! This box got tightened up and I hope I don't have to ever open it again because that made it just incredibly stressful...but still a great feeling because I know that whomever opens this box will smile and the items will help them out in their journey in life.

     Boxes are such a great blessing to fill and to receive and even if the packing is stressful (Not everything fitting) but in the end, especially for me, staring at the box with the rubber bands around it ready to go off to a country where a girl will open it and smile with appreciation. That is what makes it all worth while, I guess, that these boxes will bring a smile to a kid out there and better their lives in some shape or form.

Happy Packing Everyone and Happy Thanksgiving!

PS: This box came out to be 5.4 lbs!

     

Unique Shoebox Item: A Dress Tie

Hello Packers!

     Well, today is the last day of drop off week and now we can all settle down for about five minutes then start thinking about what to put in our next boxes! I'm already looking over all the internet for ideas as well as checking out my nearby 99 cent stores. Now, something that I saw that turned a lightbulb on in my head was the idea of putting a dress tie in my boxes. 

Why a Tie?

     Someone had told me that when a child is sent to church or they are sent to an area where there are a lot of white people, their parents will dress them up to their "Sunday Best" so they look incredibly presentable to the foreigners as well as the church. Some boys will arrive in polo shirts at the distributions and what clicked in my head was what a tie could stand for. I know that on tie-day at my old middle school, I felt quite polished and professional wearing a tie around my neck although I'm a girl. So then I started to think about the people in the United States, how there are people out there who don't know how to wear ties or they want to wear a tie but just don't know how. 

     People in the US use ties to look presentable when they are going into churches, group functions, interviews and special occasions. It isn't that different around the world and remember packers, these kids will become adults and will be trying to find jobs, going to churches (hopefully), might be getting married and a tie really makes a person feel like they are meeting some of the requirements of the situation. My thought on the matter is that the tie I put in his box...might be the tie he wears to his first job interview, might be the tie he wears to his wedding day, might be the tie he wears every Sunday when he goes in to church or maybe this tie will help his daddy feel confident in his next job interview and make him feel confident when he heads into church with his family. 

Multiple Uses

     A tie is pretty stable in its fabric and this tie could be used in multiple occasions. If the child doesn't wear it, he can use it to tie up a wound for the time being, he can use it to tie up a portion of his hut that is falling apart, use it as a head band to block out the sweat, as a handle for a bag...there are many uses for the tie other than for fashion purposes.

     

     So, while you are looking for things for your boxes, think about the boys and if you come across a tie that just automatically speaks to you and says "Yes, put me in your box", I pray you buy it and send it with your box. It's a simple thing, a tie, but the meaning and purpose of it is is something more than any person could understand. 

OCC's Year-Round Packing Items

Hello Packers!

     We all have an idea of what we should buy year round for Operation Christmas Child but although we all like to go our own route regarding year round packing...I know I'm guilty of that. So, I was perusing the Operation Christmas Child site and found that they have an all year round packing calendar! How cool is that? As our drop off week is coming soon to a close, it's only right that we look at what we should be stocking up for next...right?! Without Further ado, here is the calendar:

January: Hats, Gloves, Scarves

The winter season is coming to a close and that means all the beanies, gloves and scarves that on any other day be about $5 each can come to a possible $1 or $0.50.  This is a GREAT time to stock up on all those winter clothes from that November/December overstock.

February: Dental Hygiene Items

I can't tell if they meant to stock up on these supplies because of the huge Valentine's Day candy rush or not but according to OCC this is the time to be stocking up on toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss and those super special toothbrush holders!

March: Quality Crafts

Crafts are a great thing to stock up on for not only yourself to make and then put in your boxes but in some cases for the recipients of your boxes! I've stocked up on bracelet sets for my girls' boxes and I just know they are going to be a great hit!

April: Stuffed Animals

April has one of our favorite holidays over here at Shoebox Loving and that is Easter! Easter not only helps us remember the reason why we love our dear Lord and Savior but also includes stuffed animals and other awesome crafts that we can put in our boxes! Wait for the day after Easter, I know that sounds very materialistic and consumer-like of me but I have stuffed animals that I was able to get for about $0.25 last year.

May: Hygiene Items

This means hair brushes, combs, wash cloths, tissues, band-aids and maybe some wet wipes. These are incredibly important to have in your boxes. I've seen some photos of WorldVision's children and their hair just makes you want to pack an entire thing of shampoo and conditioner in there but...for safety sake, let's stick to brushes and combs.

June: Toys

Of course our boxes need toys! Toys are such an important aspect to these boxes! Toys make being a kid so wonderful! I hope you all find some awesome toys to put in your shoe boxes and especially the ones that make the kid in YOU smile.

July: Clothing Items

It is slowly creeping into back to school deals and getting rid of the mass amounts of flip-flops, crocs and slip on sandals that the stores have been hoarding. I was able to get a large amount of back to school uniform shirts for about $2 each in 2014 at Target around this time. It truly is a good time to be stocking up on clothing items but don't let it limit you to just shirts, get some PJ pants if you can or maybe even sweat pants, get some girls some skirts and don't forget underwear and my favorite item: Socks!

August: School Supplies

I cannot stress this enough! School supplies are flying off the shelves during this month and my favorite school items, notebooks, go for as low as $0.05 in some stores.

September: Games

Again, I don't know why September is the month for games but according to OCC it is! Games, like card games, tic-tac-toe, fishing games and others.

October: Letter and Photo

If you saw my last post, then you would know how the manager of the drop off center got quite emotional when he saw my letters in my boxes. Packers, those letters and photos...they might not speak the same language but they mean the world to those kids. The manager told me that a girl who received her box in Bolivia was talking to him about how she still had the photo of the sweet family tucked away in her wallet at all times.

November: $7 Donation

Well, I broke this little suggestion this year by purchasing my track-my-box labels online around October. Oops. But this is the time to get those donations in either envelopes in your boxes or doing the donation online like I did.

December: Pray

Pray! Pray! Pray! Praying for your boxes is a great thing to do. I pray for my boxes after I pack them, on my way to the drop off center, and when I'm waiting for the carts to take my boxes into the drop off center. Pray over your boxes, Packers. That prayer can go an extremely long way.

Happy Packing!

(Today and Tomorrow then no more drop offs!)

2015 Operation Christmas Child Drop Off #ipackedashoebox

Happy Drop Off Week Packers!

     Oh how we all love this time of the year. Thanksgiving is right around the corner then Christmas time but what we all love to see on our bulletins and in our e-mails are the notifications about the glorious week called "Drop Off Week"! I truly love this time and this year I have been so blessed to drop my boxes off at Bayside Church this year. Now, this year was something incredibly different compared to last year because the people at Bayside were so welcoming and kind while the volunteers at a location I refuse to mention by name were rude and gave me some rude looks at my boxes. Why? Well, last year a good portion of my boxes were filled with 99 cent store items and the woman at the table gave me looks of disgust and well, looks of "Your boxes do not meet the standards of Operation Christmas Child". But this year, this year was different.

     This year I was blessed with enough resources to donate 20 boxes, not all are shown right here because there were a few already in the car. But I am truly blessed that I was able to fill 20 boxes for Operation Christmas Child and it was by my donation that I felt both sad/glad at the drop off today because firstly they had to get two carts to bring my boxes in which was hilarious because they were shocked and I never thought that for 20 boxes they would need two carts to bring them in. But by the use of carts I was able to talk to the manager of the drop off location and he was quite emotional regarding the notes that I included in the boxes. He said that they make such a difference and that it is sad that some of the boxes that have come in to the drop off center don't have any type of note in there, not even a small one. 

     

     When I was talking to the lady who was helping move these awesome boxes to one of the carts, she was getting incredibly emotional about the amount that I brought in. I was so shocked because she acted like I brought in the largest amount of boxes she's seen throughout the entire week. It...it really made me feel sad because it was the Rocklin area. I'm not trying to stereotype or make a pre-judgment here but I've seen the people there, I have seen the amounts of money that they donate to multiple charities but when it comes to shoe boxes...the generosity fell a little short. I'm not saying they are greedy or "scrooge" and I'm also not saying that those who donate a few boxes aren't as good as the ones bringing in 500, but when a mere 20 boxes one of the largest amounts they've seen there: I just...I'm honored but also disheartened. 

     I'm so incredibly blessed to have been able to fill 20 boxes and this year really hit the spot as the volunteers were so kind and accepting of me in my blue sweatshirt and worn out shoes while other people were dressed in Macy's styled clothing and Nordstroms. These volunteers didn't let looks distract them from the mission of the organization and it was truly a breath of fresh air and a little spark of why I donate in the first place. Thank you Bayside Church volunteers for giving me a better experience than last year and making me feel like I'm really making a difference. 

Happy Packing Everyone! 

90% Halloween Items at CVS

Hello Packers!

     So, a few days ago I went to CVS and scored their aisles once more to find that all the Halloween items were now marked down to the beautiful 90% off. They didn't have much, they had the typical make-up that no one wants to buy, the baskets that take up too much space and the dancing Halloween kitties that again, take up to much space. But what I did find were too good of a deal to pass up and thus the reason behind this blog post. Here are some of my awesome finds!

     These tote bags are originally $2.49 and I got them each for  $0.25 each! They are great quality and their ears are puffy so the little kiddies will really like them. They only had four...well, four that didn't have rips and tears in them but here they are! I want you all to know that tote bags are an incredibly great addition to your boxes if you ever have them on hand. Some of these kids go to schools in terrible conditions without anything to hold their school supplies in and their things end up dirty, destroyed etc. I try my best to include some form of bag in each of the boxes, even for the little kiddies because what kid doesn't love a good bag to put their things in? I'll have another blog post about the importance of tote bags but still, what an awesome find!

     Socks! Socks! Socks! Every where I go, every which way I turn, I end up getting some really awesome deals on socks! These socks are so cool because although they are Halloween themed, they are incredibly appropriate for my boxes as there are no devils, witches or scary characters on there. I am a little bit nervous about the socks with bats on them because I discovered that bats are considered bad omens or bad luck creatures in certain cultures. So, I'm praying that whomever receives those boxes with these bat socks in them doesn't believe in the bad omen bat. But, these socks are a great deal as they were $3.99 by themselves because the cashier rang them up as $3.99 each instead of the 2 for $5 deal I thought they were at and they ended up being $0.29 each. They were four cents more than what I had calculated them at two for $5 because I had calculated them for two being at $0.50 but hey, for all six pairs, they came out to being $1,74 which is less than what it would cost me at the dollar tree for two sets of three. 

     All in all, it is still November which means there still might be some Halloween fun out there for you to find. I recommend taking the time to look up and down every aisle you come across because you never know what lucky deal will show up. With that being said, it is National Drop Off week and I hope you all have safe travels to your Drop Off Locations and I pray for your boxes as well. 

Happy Packing!

Candy: Yes or No?

Hello Packers!

     So, how many of you look on blogs, posts, Facebook articles and the Operation Christmas Child website and wonder "Should I include candy in my boxes?" ? Well, I was wondering the same thing this year. My first year didn't include candy because at that time I had NO IDEA that candy was allowed. I didn't really see a point in including candy at first. Candy leads to cavities and at the time I was thinking that children had access to candy where they were. I also wondered why in the world would we send candy to kids who might not have food to eat on a daily basis...why build up this desire for candy in the beginning and let them be let down when the candy is gone? That was the big mindset I had last year but this year I have filled up a 7 candy piece bag for each of my boxes. Why? Let me explain.

     When we first get into the Operation Christmas Child spirit, we go from the Operation Christmas Child site to get the gist of what the whole organization is about and then we hit Pinterest, our church boards etc to find ideas on what to pack in our shoe boxes. I found everything from school supplies, hygiene items and what type of clothing to put in the boxes but what was a varying subject to put into shoe boxes was the concept of candy. Do we want to put sticky gooey candy in boxes? Do we really want to send something that could possibly melt in the sun and ruin a kid's perfectly fine box? Those were some of the other things running through my head as I was beginning my Operation Christmas Child journey.

     Then after I handed out candy at Trunk or Treat last year, I realized something about the smiles and eager hands of these children. These kids didn't have to worry about not getting enough candy this year: guaranteed they're going to find some sort of candy cane or gum in their stocking and they'll probably taste the sweet taste of a Dum-Dum pop at the next Birthday party they go to and a cute box of chocolates on Valentine's day and all the candy sorts they get in between. These are American kids that can get candy on an every day basis while those kids in third world countries might not get any type of sweet within their entire year. I know it might not always be the case but just think about it.

     Remember back to when you had your first piece of candy. What was it? Do you even remember? I believe that mine was a peppermint that I got from my grandmother. But just imagine that these kids have possibly gone their entire lives without ever experiencing their "first candy". Just like how many of these children have probably never received a gift before, they might not have had such great candy before. There was a story about a girl in Russia that I read that said that she got chewing gum in her box. She was so excited and whenever it lost its flavor she would cover it in citrus powder and continue chewing. Something as simple as chewing gum can change a child's perspective on their life, how crazy is that?

 BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CAVITIES?

     I read an older blog post about a woman who distributed and she told us all to stop putting candies in our boxes. Why? Because a lot of these kids don't have access to dental hygiene and will get cavities. Well, I thought about that because in reality it makes a lot of sense. We don't always like to give our own kiddies candy because of the possibility of cavities but then, where's the fun in that? Where is the fun and exhilaration of life if we pull ourselves away from the sweet delicacies of candy? If we all stopped giving our kiddies candy because of fear of cavities, we are keeping our children from enjoying one of life's many pleasures: the pleasure to have our taste buds taste something different for a change!

     Besides the point of letting the kids live for once in their lives as this might be the only dash of candy they get that year, I want to remind people to include toothbrushes and toothpastes in their boxes. Balance out the possibilities of cavities with the things that are supposed to prevent them! In my own experience as someone who wasn't for putting candy in the boxes, it definitely lifts that worry of cavities when you put in a good tube of Toothpaste and a nice sturdy toothbrush.

WHAT CANDY IS GOOD CANDY?

     That is actually a really good question because I have heard horror stories of children's boxes arriving in hot places like Grenada, Rwanda and Jamaica and then finding the candy melted all over their items rendering them pretty gross and ant ridden when they are opened. One child's box had melted caramels all over her doll's hair and clothing: that would ruin any kid's day. I remember when my cousin dumped her milk all over my Easter candy and that is nothing compared to it actually touching and ruining my doll's hair and outfits. With that being said I want to point out some really great candies to include in your boxes if you choose to do so.

Candy Canes
What better way to start the holidays than with a nice peppermint candy cane? These are great to include in your shoe boxes because they barely take up any room, they have a plastic cover, they scream Christmas and kids love them! Sugar Cane is one of the more popular candy items out there and a minty one is no different. This great treat has brought a girl, Joanne I believe is her name, great joy because it was shaped like a "J" and she thought that the candy was made specifically for her. How sweet is that!

Suckers
Suckers to me are another great go to because they are packaged relatively tight like the candy canes and again, they take up barely any space when putting them in your boxes. Suckers don't tend to melt in my experience when it comes to quality ones. I recommend not buying the type shown in the picture mainly because they have come home melted just from being in my car. You have been warned.

Gum
Do you remember me talking about the girl from Russia? Well, that story is the only reason why I would ever put chewing gum into my boxes. I would worry about the gum melting in the boxes and gum could get in their hair and just...it leaves me with new worries regarding the involvement of gum in the boxes. However, gum is allowed in boxes as long as they are in the plastic ziplock bags like all the other candies.

Skittles
Now who doesn't love a bag of skittles during Halloween or that special bag you get before going onto the plane? Well, someone on another blog was telling us all how skittles are a great addition to the boxes as well. Who knew? I would think that because they melt a bit that they wouldn't be the ideal choice but many have included large bags of skittles in their boxes as the candy choice.

BAD CANDY CHOICES
     Yes, there is such a thing as bad candy when it comes to filling shoe boxes. As you can probably already tell, melting candy is a big no-no from the comments I put in regarding candy. Here is a good list of candies to not include:
Chocolate of any kind-Pretty obvious but this will melt and just cause a huge mess
Chewy Caramels-These too can get really messy and no one wants to deal with that
Pixie Sticks-This is just an opinion but they are already flimsy and break just by contact, I wouldn't want my candy bag to be covered in candy dust by the time it arrives to the child.
Gummy Candy-Also just an opinion, I've seen gummy candy like Lifesavers Gummies and gummy eyeballs melt like ice cream on the sidewalk just by being in my car. It becomes something that looks a lot like Nickelodeon Slime and that can be a sticky mess for the distributors or the child's caretakers to clean up.
Liquid Candy-Again this is pretty self-explanatory, liquid gets hot and then more fluid so when that once thick gooey liquid comes out of the container, it will drip like water and lose its consistency. Besides that thought: liquids aren't allowed anyway.
Lik n' Dip-You know those minty candy sticks and the fruity powder we love dipping it in? Well, those are probably the messiest things around and just like the pixie sticks, I just don't trust the possibility of that powdery mess getting all over the candy bag.

     I now put candy in my shoe boxes because candy is one of life's little pleasures. I have memories of candy and how my childhood looked just a little brighter because of it. Now, I don't want this post to dissuade anyone who has made boxes without candy or to encourage those who do: I simply want to put out there a point of view that might give you an idea if candy is a good idea or not. In my opinion, it is a semi-good idea: there are still parts of me that question my inclusion of candy in my boxes but the child in me is pushing the idea further and further until I find myself jumping in glee at Candy Canes on sale for 1/2 price. It's all a matter of opinion when it comes to candy and there is no right or wrong answer there: fill the boxes with what you think that child would want and most importantly listen to God as He guides you to put certain items in your boxes.

Happy Packing all and I hope you all have safe trips to your drop off locations!

Spread The Word: Bring Great Joy

Hello Packers!

     Wow, we have exactly 6 days until the National Drop Off Week. How excited are you guys?! I'm so incredibly excited to wake up early in the morning, pack my trunk full of my boxes and drop off them off at my old church. I had such a wonderful time last year and ever since I started my donations to Operation Christmas Child, I've been telling EVERY BODY! Every single one of my coworkers knows about the organization, my hair dresser, my fellow classmates, all of my family members and my future in-laws. They all know about the Operation and some of my coworkers are actually filling up shoe boxes with their families now! Isn't that wonderful?

     Which brings me to the point of this post. God wants us to make disciples of His word, for us to do His work down on earth until we Him in Heaven. We might not get the same opportunities that Jesus's disciples got during their time and be able to walk from town to town without concern but God has provided us with an opportunity for us to spread the word of God to children and their families all over the world. 

     

     So, we are spreading the word through these boxes and the letters we send. Giving children the opportunity to learn about Christ....what else can we do? I know! Spread the word in the States! Did you know that not everyone knows about Operation Christmas Child? Let alone Samaritan's Purse. When ever I am caught buying over 10 deodorants at the store or multiple packs of socks and the bagger/cashier asks me why I'm buying so much (Something I've realized is a common occurrence) and I no longer feel shy telling them about Operation Christmas Child. 

     When I first started my shopping for Operation Christmas Child...with little less than a month to fill some boxes, I found myself a little embarrassed. I had two full shopping baskets filled to the top with dolls, tote bags, school supplies and the works while the people grabbing as many stocking fillers and left over Halloween items as they possibly could: here I was with two baskets and really, just taking up tons of space on the line. The cashier was a woman in her mid 50's and she looked at me with an eyebrow raised as she started to ring the items up. "You have a lot of kids at home?" She asked me and I shook my head instantly. "Oh no, these are items I'm putting in shoe boxes to send to children in third world countries." I say with a smile and I felt bad for the people in line because we ended up going into a ten or so minute conversation all about Operation Christmas Child.

     I'm telling you this because I saw the woman later THIS year and I was in the lane next to hers. She was scanning some lady's items and smiles as she sees some of the items. "Oh, I'll have to make sure to get some of these to put into my boxes." She said and I glanced back and saw how she was scanning some floral tote bags. That woman had no idea what Operation Christmas Child was and it was so amazing to hear that just within a year, she had discovered the organization and was filling shoe boxes right alongside the rest of us. 

     With that being said, packers, whenever you get the opportunity to tell others about the organization: you never know, you might just opening up a world unknown to this person and next year you might see them packing up boxes just like you. We are doing his work by doing so, we tell them, they discover the Lord's work and then pack more boxes which helps make more disciples out there. 

This organization truly does exhibit God's work and it is a blessing that we are able to contribute to the cause. Happy packing everyone and have safe trips to the Drop Off Locations!

PS: Drop Off Location Link

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/drop-off-locations/

A little Bargain Blessing

Hello Packers,

     I love the packing season, as all of you probably know already from my countless blog posts that keep me from my school work; but I love it because it brings out something more from the generous and God-fearing people of the world. It brings out a certain personality, a certain loving aura if you will that others can feel when they are around you. They can sense your charity, your loving personality and it's beautiful isn't it? How we can find ourselves becoming more God-like in this operation? I love it.

     The reason for this post is because sometimes it just comes over you when you see certain items at a store or something that may not seem like a great idea but might be that one unique thing in your box that makes the child's prayers come true. That was where I was at today. I visit CVS Pharmacy on a weekly basis mainly to purchase a drink or snack on my way to work and yesterday was no different. I headed toward my job and decided to stop at CVS, "maybe they have Halloween deals" was what I was thinking and unfortunately, I was wrong. CVS had all of its Halloween items still at 50% off which was exactly what it was the day after Halloween: in other words, I wasn't going to still buy a Halloween tote bag at $1.50 after the discount...there's no way.

     So, I sulk in defeat as I peruse the store for maybe some deal on the stuffed animals or their school supplies but again, I find myself sulking in defeat. As I go down a familiar aisle, the aisle of Christmas decorations, candies and could-be gifts for those who need to think fast: I see a 50% off sign toward the end and I get giddy at the thought of maybe getting some deals. Then I see this:

     For those of you who don't know, CVS happens to have a Bargain Buys section where you can find toys, school supplies, random items and so forth for about $5 or less. Sometimes these items can get as low as 90% but by that time, there is only about 5 things left over and they are things you would never consider putting in a shoe box (phone chargers and electrical things). So when you see them at 50% off, you run and swoop up anything that you think you could put in a shoe box. I was thinking about putting in those flash lights there but when they are LED battery powered, I much prefer getting the ones with double A's or something along those lines because they might be easier to come by and I personally think they are easier to pack. Anyway, here are a few things I found.

     What we have here are magnetic doll sets that were originally $1 each so I got them for $0.50. I think I love these ones the best out of some of the ones I found mainly because they have multiple options regarding clothing, accessories and so forth. I also think that a magnetic doll is a lot of fun because it takes up barely any space and the girls won't have to worry about these dolls getting dirty and so forth....just as long as they steer clear of any scissor shenanigans. Also, dolls like these (felt, paper and sticker) are all dolls that are recommended in boxes along with the regular stuffed doll or Barbie Doll.

     Remember how I mentioned there are certain items that we see and we just have to get because of that gut feeling? Well, these things are my gut items. they only had 9 so of course I just had to buy them all. It could be just because of the nostalgia I got from getting oddly shaped notebooks or the fact I just loved the colors on them, I knew I had to buy these. These, too, were $1 each and on sale for $0.50 each. They have 200 sticky note papers in them of ranging colors. I don't  really like getting smaller notebooks because, in most circumstances, small notepads aren't going to be the most useful in school like situations. But then I started to think about what I used small notebooks for when I was younger. I would fold them into interesting shapes, I'd send funny notes to my friends, write out little stories or just give myself little notes of encouragement. I know they might not be the most useful items in the shoe boxes, but still: they can be used.

Alright, well that's my little tidbit for today. Happy Packing Everyone! 8 more days until Drop Off Week begins!

Comic Store/99 Cent Store/Wal-Mart After-Halloween Sales 11/6/15

Hello Awesome Packers!

     So, I am on a shopping craze...(probably not good for my wallet)....but I HAD to show you guys the awesome things I found right down the street if you live in the Sacramento County of California. So, the first thing I wanted you guys to know about was the importance of stuffed animals in shoe boxes. Operation Christmas Child promotes stuffed animals or in their words "something to love". I love putting a stuffed animal in the boxes, especially when the stuffed animal is practically telling me to put it in the box. 

     In my attempt to find great deals on stuffed animals, mainly Beanie Babies, I went on Craigslist and found an advertisement for a Comic Book Store off Watt. Now, I'm not exactly a fan of going down Watt (not a lot of great drivers) but I went down Watt and turned in to find the Comic Book Store that had Beanie Babies on sale for $2 each. How awesome is that? Beanie Babies are a perfect size to put into boxes that will last for a long time and bring great memories to a child no matter where they are. Here are my purchases:

     Aren't these the cutest things you've ever seen?! The two in the back are Valentine's Day Beanie Babies that have hand crocheted sweaters that you can take on and off of the bears and then two dogs that are brand new with tags. These are just a few of the many Beanie Babies that I will be buying there because I got four for $8 and then there is a tax of 15 cents per Beanie Baby so keep that in mind for those of you that might want to check it out. When looking at the Beanie Babies, think about which ones will go best for the boys and which ones will be best for girls. The ones in the back would probably be better for girls boxes and the ones in the front might be better suited for boys. But don't let the barriers prevent you from putting some doggy Beanie Babies in your girl boxes.

     I did bash Wal-Mart in one of my last posts and rightly so mainly because their deals are barely available and they know EXACTLY what I'm talking about. They leave us with the left overs and they actually look like left overs. It is like they are the remnants of costumes and parties and we get the crumbs. I know it isn't like that all over the place but where I live, our Wal-Marts don't exactly have the best options. I will show you the few things I found for boxes but compared to some stores: this is just saddening.

    So, this is my "haul" from the land of Wally World. Each of these items was 75% off so each item was $0.25 each. I like the activity pad set there because I got 12 in this coloring pack and each is about 6 pages. It was the only one they had available and it will look good with the other coloring books I'll put into the boxes. I liked that they had pencils available and I got 24 pencils for $0.50. Then of course, I got some stickers which I will cut into sections so I can disperse them into multiple boxes. 

     Now, this is something I never thought I'd see at a store and by the half-filled shelves here, it's obvious I noticed this a little too late but I went to the 99 Cent store off Elkhorn and they had all of their Halloween items at $0.11 each! How incredibly awesome is that?! Anyway, if you step to the right of where I took this picture you'd see the large amounts of witch hats and cowboy hats that wouldn't fit inside the boxes but then you see the drawing pads, the clappers, the sticker sets and so forth. So, with that this is my HAUL!

     Those things on the left of the photo are Bracelet sets! It comes with four charms, beads and yarn for the bracelets. I was so excited and bought 14 of them. Then I got a great amount of stickers down below and the ones on the white background are Sandy Lion Brand which I have grown up on and have created a product bias for it so of course I bought as many as they had. They only had one Monster book but you can decorate a monster on the inside with funny stickers and so forth. I got four packs of 3-notebook sets: I think I'll skip on the witches in the middle because who knows how other countries will feel toward seeing witches, even the super cute and friendly ones that are on the notebooks there. Then you see the never-ending amount of clappers there: I get 14 clappers so yay! 14 more boxes filled with noise making items. Then I got three packs of 16-puzzles sets and a set of 200 stickers. Each of these items were only 11 cents and such a blessing to find in the time where they should be gone from the shelves and in someone's stock for next Halloween. 

So, I just wanted to share some awesome finds that I found just in my area and anyone in the Sacramento area to find as well. If any of you live near a 99 cent store, tell us about your awesome finds in the comments. Let's spread the word about these awesome deals! Happy Packing!

Awesome Shopping Deals Part 3/3

Hello Packers!

     I have another post that will follow right after this one because I got SUPER lucky today in regards to after Halloween deals but for now, I will show you my great deals from yesterday that I got from the 99 Cent Store. Of course, I feel so blessed when I see things on sale especially if the original price is a dollar. Those deals are so great because they give us the opportunities to put more things in our boxes and save money to make more boxes! 

     I hope you all are taking advantage to the great Halloween deals that are going on right now but something I want you all to keep in mind is that although Halloween deals are phenomenal, we need to take care that certain things might not be the most appropriate during the Halloween season. Some things that I've noticed people kicking out of their Halloween spending were Witches, Devils and Ghosts. I can't blame them on the Devils and Witches but if the Ghosts look friendly to me: I personally think it would be OK but then again, check with Operation Christmas Child or a distributor and ask for their opinion on the matter. I've seen mixed opinions so who knows. I do agree on the Devils and Witches not being a great idea for shoe boxes. Anyway, with that, I'm super excited to show you my super deals yesterday at the 99 Cent Store off of Douglas.

     So, what we have here for starters is a great way for the 99 Cent Store to try and get rid of ANY Halloween merchandise they have. With every item being $0.25, who could blame the OCCD Packers for ransacking the place for the best deals? Unfortunately, all the items I was able to previously get for $0.50 each were not there and I got to find the smaller more toy-like items they had available. Which is good, too, because toy-wise, I only have so much. Anyway, so right here are some pumpkin and ghost clappers that make tons of noise and all the kids need to do is shake. I read that children of all ages like noise makers from harmonicas, drums, recorders and whistles. These are just another way to get that fun noise making into the boxes without taking too much space. I bought four of these and get to put one in 8 boxes so that is totally awesome. :)

     Next, I found some really great Paddle Balls for my boxes! Unfortunately they only had three available so if you are headed that way, sorry; I took the last of them. But these aren't any paddle balls, they are made of wood and have a strong rubber ball at the end that are a lot better than some I have seen out there that are made of solely plastic and flimsy string. These are great for the older kids' boxes, both boy or girl. Plus, they barely take in any space!

     Well, as you all have noticed by now, I'm a huge fan of socks in shoe boxes. Socks play a great part in my shoe boxes and finding a pair of not only good quality ones but ones that are fun and colorful are a plus. Then I found two BumbleBee headbands and they  are super cute and again, the ONLY ones they had left over. Then we had two eraser toppers containers and they are all OK to put on the pencils in your shoe boxes. 

Alright Packers, I hope you all have a good time packing in the last few days before we have to pack them up and send them off. :) Happy Packing!

Awesome Shopping Deals part 2/3

Hello Packers!

     As this is part 2 of my trilogy of awesome shoe box shopping finds, I want you all to know that finding such amazing deals doesn't always plop itself into someone's lap and says "here you go". We have to look for the deals and really dig deep into maybe the "trash" bin of the store to find some really good deals, but they are out there and ready for us to pick up and take home to our boxes.

     Another point I'd like to make is that we all need to know what a "good deal" is. For example, a shirt on sale for $5 will not be as great as let's say the same shirt on sale for $1. Packers, we are not judging each other for buying the $1 shirt over the $5 one. Some packers out there may have that "Higher than thou" mindset but for the majority, we are impressed and want to know more about those deals you keep finding! It is truly a rush for us packers to find Arizona t-shirts on sale for $1 or Comic tees for $1.50. Don't feel out of touch or not good enough when you pack your boxes with such items: God sees you doing His work and is happy with what you are doing, no matter what the price range is. 

     With that being said, here is what I found at JCPenny at the Sunrise Mall for those of you who live in that area of California.

     These are three shirts that go through the prices from left to right. $1, $1.50, $1.50. All of these shirts came from the boys 80% off section of JCPenny and I was both happy and sad that they had these on sale. Why sad? Well, what I've seen through the countless pictures of my blog travelling is that when the white people come, they want to "impress" them and dress well,  they want to go to church looking appropriate and so forth. That's why, although it is incredibly great that I was able to find such deals on comic tees, I longed so desperately for the Polo shirts and button down dress shirts that were at the same section to be just a little bit cheaper than what they were placed at. I understand that any clothing is a gift and I believe that with all my heart but still, I wish I could give the boys a nice dress shirt or something along those lines without breaking my bank. 

     Anyway, that is all from me. I hope you all have a great time packing and National Collection Week is only 10 days away!

Awesome Shopping Deals Part 1/3

Hello Packers!

     As Halloween has come and gone, we are all seeing the glorious 50-90% off deals that all stores are throwing right now. Some of my favorites are the 99 Cent Store as well as Target. Walmart has constantly let me down in its line of clearance aisle as everyone heads to Walmart: low prices=super low clearance and therefore unless you are at the door to pick up every clearance item possible. But since I didn't get to that on time, I'm gonna show you some awesome deals I've found at a few stores. 

First, I went to the Target right off Douglas and they had a wonderful section of Halloween hats and so forth on sale from their Dollar Spot at 50% off! Each of these hats was originally $3 and they were at $1.50 each. What is wonderful about these hats is that they are small enough to fit a younger child but can stretch to fit an older child. It is so awesome!

At the same Target store, I found two-packs of gloves at $1,50 and then socks and sticky notes on sale for $0.50 each. The gloves are a great size for older children and the socks are the perfect size for the older girls. Sticky notes aren't exactly the highest things on my list of things to put in my boxes but I have a feeling that some kids out there could put them to good use.

     This is probably the best sign you can see in the Dollar Spot section of Target. This particular one was found off Sierra College Boulevard and I fell in love with their Dollar Spot section toward the back of the store. Tucked within the Halloween costumes, shirts and left over candy was every single Dollar Spot item they had ever had in stock throughout the year for 70% off! This was the best part of my day by far!

     So, the one and only set of stickers I could find was this set of Spider Man stickers but there is something amazing I've discovered about Spider-Man. When I was searching through one of the blogs I follow, I discovered that there was a boy who didn't want to go to a distribution but ended up going with his cousin. When he was opening his box, he discovered that EVERYTHING in the box was Spider-Man themed and turns out it was his favorite super hero. Super heroes have become something universal and it is so awesome that we can include things like this in their boxes.

     Then, finally, I have the best surprise of all! When I go to the Dollar Spot I always fall in love with the pencil cases they have available but something that prevented me from buying them was the fact that each one of these things is $1. I can get a two pack for a dollar at the Dollar tree so why would I bother? Well, each one of these things was $0.30 each! I got 20 pouches for $6. These things are made of great quality fabric and I am so excited to be able to put them into boys' boxes for next year.