Care packages

I had several items from couponing that I got for free or even received overage on that I thought the hubby and I might not be able to utilize before they go bad. So I decided to put together a package for a random soldier serving in Afghanistan. After searching for a while I decided to go with anysoldier, which is a website soldiers can post on requesting various items, especially for soldiers who don't receive much mail. I ended up picking two different people who, in theory, will pass on the boxes to the other people in their troop- some of them seemed more interested in getting things for themselves than sharing with others though. Anyhow I thought I'd share here was in the boxes.


Box 1- Hygiene for a male soldier includes toothpaste, toothbrush, floss, several deodorants including Degree, Dove for Men, and Old Spice, Schick Hydro 5 razor, Bic Advance razors, q-tips, Benadryl itch stick, Flintstones rubber band bracelets (for either the troops or Afghan children), and Folic Acid, pens, Sharpies, and card/envelopes which were all divided between the three boxes.

Total OOP: ~$3


Box 2- Foodstuffs including Crystal Light lemonade pouches, beef jerky, popcorn with pour over butter packet, several oatmeal packets, coffee and cocoa packets, m&ms, a box of ice cream flavor Poptarts and a box of smores flavor Poptarts, Kraft dressing, Twizzlers, two small boxes of freezer pops, Airheads, and the same pens/Sharpies/cards as above.

Total OOP: ~$6

Box 3- Female hygiene including two bottles of nail polish, two John Frieda shampoos, Almay and Lumene eye makeup remover, Degree body mist, several deoderants including Secret and Degree, St. Ives body wash, Playtex and Tampax tampons, Always pads, a small bag for toiletries, and Folic acid/pens/cards.

Total OOP: ~$7

Those boxes are crammed to the brim, I had to almost stand on it to get it to close, haha!

And here we go...

So I'm going to pick up by posting what I've been doing lately in each of the three categories, paranormal, prose, and petticoats, and add a fourth category: penny-pinching. I've recently gotten into couponing so I will be breaking down some of the deals I get every once and a while.

Paranormal:

I haven't done much about paranormal stuff since we've moved here though there seems to be plenty of places to choose from! Even the road in front of our home is reported to be haunted. I've started watching a new show on Syfy called Haunted Collector about people's items that are haunted and the investigator comes in and takes the items and puts them in the 'museum' in his basement... Which is in CT!

Prose:

I had a letter to the editor posted in the local paper of my hometown and that's all that has been published for me. Still plugging away on my book, though I do have my nom de plume picked out. :)

Petticoats:

Not much here either. Mailed off a quilt top I made a long time ago that I was originally going to throw out to have it quilted by someone and mailed back. I'm also working on a scrapbook for Miles and have plans for to knit a scarf in a paper chain pattern. We've been working a lot on our house, putting up a fence, painting, and planning a deck. I'm working on putting together the outdoor furniture pieces I purchased from Target at 75% off. Which brings us to...



Penny-pinching:

The picture is of the items I purchased on a trip to Target, and here is a breakdown.

Kraft Ranch Dressing: $1.59
Kraft Italian Dressing: $1.59
Minus $1 off 2 Target coupon stacked with $1/2 manufacturer coupon= .59 each

One Kellogg's Poptart, 8 count: $2.14
Two Kellogg's Poptart, 12 count: $2.50/each
Minus $1/3 Target coupon stacked with $2/3 manufacturer coupon= $1.38 each

Two Morningstar Products: $2.99 each
Minus $1/2 Target coupon= $2.49 each

One St. Ives trial: .99
Minus $1/1 manufacturer coupon= Free

One Sally Hansen nail polish: $2.04
Minus $1/1 Target coupon stack with $1/1 manufacturer coupon= .04

One Pantene trial: .97
Minus $1/1 manufacturer coupon= Free

Two Hefty one zip travel sized: .99 each
Minus $1/2 manufacturer coupon= .49 each

Three Benadryl Itch relief sticks: $2.29 each
Minus three $2/1 manufacturer coupons= .29 each

One Sharpie permanent marker double pack: $1.00
Minus $1/1 Target coupon= Free

One pack of ballpoint pens: $1.02
Minus $1/1 Target coupon= .02