Hi

I do not know if this belongs within this thread or not, but here goes.

I was really tired of looking for decent prices on Trail Mix, plus most of the Nut Trail mixes are covered in a coating of salt by the time you get to eat the factory prepped bags SOO...

I thought they can have a choice and make their own and it took 2 of the new flat raters but I think it will be worth it on their end. I sent the oversized bag of M & M's (they are in Afghanistan so good to go still on that) 3 lbs of Mixed Nuts, 3 lbs of Cashews, 2 lbs of Honey Roasted Peanuts, 24 oz of Dark Raisins, and 2 Bags of Banana Chips. They also got 2 big bags of Davids sunflower seeds, tuna packets, protien bars, granola bars, Gatorade. Anyway the selection was pretty up there in the Protien area.

I sent things in the original packages with Ziplocks around them plus extra zip locks, So they can make their own Trail mix carry bags and get more bang for the buck. 2 bgs of trail mix cost more than One Can of the nuts. If I could find a decent place to purchase a variety of dried fruits, I will send them the items for making a Tropical Trail Mix.

They also if needed can reuse their cans for storage. I searched for a similar posting and couldnt find it, so sorry if I duplicated on this. "would have sent more banana chips but THE BUNNY jumped in da box"

Nanc

Nanc -- this is a swell idea, and with the new FRBs we'll be able to get a good bit in there.    It's great how much more they hold, isn't it?

Thanks for the tip!

--Marilyn

I have wondered if some of them might have done this because several have asked for dried fruit, a variety of nuts and M&Ms and pretzels.

Gran

Gran:

I have wondered if some of them might have done this because several have asked for dried fruit, a variety of nuts and M&Ms and pretzels.

Gran

Thanks Marilyn, Hi Gran,

I know why I did this, because I did see the requests continue for Trail Mix type foods or actual Trail mix, and I LOVE the Raisin/M & M/Nut mixes. BUT I also see half the bag being Air, and I didnt want to spend all that money on Air.

Plus you cant get so many bags in even the big boxes with all that Air..haha! AND it comes down to freshness too, the Dollar Store or alot of them I find these items sometimes stale. Like hubby and I bought mixed nuts and peanuts for x-mas and you could tell they were stale. Hence I don't want to send them Trail Mix from there. 

So I bought the stuff at WalMt, also the Protein factor is raised alot on requests and I cant afford the Weight Training suplements. I didnt agree with the Honey Roasted peanuts, but Hubby over-ruled on that one:-) So they can eat these seperately or make the mix, we all know they will reuse the bags anyway for whatever purpose is needed. The Banana Chips had a lot of Air, I just about didnt include them. In the long run from both ends I thought it would be cheaper this way. And if the M&Ms hadnt melted here yet in Az ththen I think they will make it ok for now in Afg.

Hugs Nanc

Las Vegas Angel - Thanks for the 4th of July ideas - i'm just about to start packing little gift bags and drew a blank on what to put in them - never thought of the Rice Krispy treats - great idea. 

Glad i found your post again.  Very timely. :)

Ann

I put these together for a 4th of July family reunion a couple of years ago.  Don't know if anyone has a unit where they'd want to make the mix themselves if you send the ingredients...  Also, the Hershey's kisses part isn't do-able with the heat this time of year so you could always send lots of slips of paper with a rubber-stamped "lip stick kiss" on them and some extra M&M peanuts or such.  Might be good even to send this is the chocolate season when spirits might be flagging....Like post-Holidays in January.

You can get Patriotic (Red, white, & blue with flag) printable tags as below by going to the www.OrganizedHome.com or www.OrganizedChistmas.com websites and putting in the search American Blessing Mix and it will get you to the printable tags.

American Blessing Mix

Serves/Yields: 16
Prep. Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time:
Category: Snack Mixes
Difficulty: Easy
 

Ingredients

2 cups Bugles brand corn snacks
2 cups small pretzels
1 cup candy corn
1 cup dried fruit bits or raisins
1 cup peanuts or sunflower seeds
1 cup M&Ms brand chocolate candy
16 Hershey's brand chocolate kisses

In a large bowl, gently mix all ingredients except Hershey's Kisses. Place 1/3 to 1/2 cup Blessing Mix in small cellophane treat bags. Add one Hershey's Kiss to each bag. Close bag with chenille stem or twist-tie.

Hand-write your own tags with the following wording [See below]. Or go to www.OrganizedChristmas.com for their printable tags.  Cut out tags, and attach one to each bag.

Makes 16 Blessing Mix gift bags.

Bugles: Shaped like a cornucopia or Horn of Plenty, a symbol of our nation's abundance.

Pretzels: Arms folded in prayer, a freedom sought by those who founded our country.

Candy corn: Sacrifices of the Pilgrims' first winter. Food was so scarce that settlers survived on just a few kernels of corn a day.

Nuts or seeds: Promise of a a future harvest, one we will reap only if seeds are planted and tended with diligence.

Dried fruits: Harvest gifts of our bountiful land.

M&Ms: Memories of those who came before us to guide us to a blessed future.

Hershey's Kiss: The love of family and friends that sweetens our lives.

Fiesta Night. . . . I've done this a couple of times for different groups.  You really have to know your group to know if they would be able to handle an "event" like this, but for those that can, it really turns out to be an incredible boost.  Also, because of the cost involved. it can work better for a church or other organization sometimes.  Here's what I do. . .  I go to Sam's Club (Costco does not have all of the supplies in my area) and I buy a couple of the huge boxes of nachos.  I think each box has something like two-five-pound-bags inside.  Then I buy a large #10 can of nacho cheese sauce, sliced jalapeño peppers, sliced black olives, refried beans, salsa and canned chicken.  I send along packets of taco seasoning mix from the local grocery store for the chicken.  I also purchase a couple of inexpensive large microwave bowls, can-opener, paper plates, napkins, large plastic spoons.  Just anything and everything you can think of to make nice plates of "Nachos Grande". One might think "the nachos will break".  Who cares!  They can still pile them up and layer them on a plate and eat!   Honestly, I don't think it costs me more than $50 - $75 to do this, because the prices are so low for these items at Sam's.  The chicken is the most expensive item, and that's not "required".  Then of course there's the shipping.  But I've had a great response from it, especially when you're trying to do something for more than just a couple of guys.  

George 

My most recent themed care package is 'Be Cool, Stay Cool!'

I included handmade cool ties, Dentyne Ice chewing gum, and ice pops.  I checked that the unit I was sending to had a freezer to freeze the ice pops.  Those were a BIG hit.  So were the cool ties, once they figured out how to use them.  I forgot to send instructions with them - not too bright on my part!

Wow great ideas, I was thinking of doing theme but didn't know a theme to do.  I'm going to do a Miami theme, eg CSI Miami and Miami Vice DVDs, Key Lime hard candy, Miami Heat, UM (my work) gear, Flip Flops etc.

or I have read some soldiers requesting items for Hispanic soldiers, so another package with Spanish language things, Miami is the perfect place for that.

That's great, Kiwi!  I like to use a video/DVD as a jumping off point to tie it all together, so you have some good ones.  Don't forget to throw in orange juice, a plastic pink flamingo (for their front "yard"--lol), a beach magazine, sunglasses, sunscreen and a bikini (or a rubber chicken in a bikini or put the flamingo in a bikini)....lol  It might be a hoot to also send them a small bottle of Miami beach sand!  Themes are soooo cool!  Thanks for this one!  We are so glad you've joined us!

Thanks for the ideas empress.  I've already started a couple of Miami and Spanish language.  I am taking a trip to Little Havana today to pick up some Cuban cigars that my friend's father was making overnight.  I also thought of all the snacks being 'South Beach' brand.  I had nothing planned for this weekend and now I have an excuse to shop (and a friend's birthday)
Thanks

USKiwi,

Does your friend's dad hand roll cigars?  If so, that is a great resource.  Whoever you send them to will think they hit the jackpot!!

Vicki 

VickiV:

USKiwi,

Does your friend's dad hand roll cigars?  If so, that is a great resource.  Whoever you send them to will think they hit the jackpot!!

Vicki 

Vicki,
Yeah my friend's father owns a Cuban Cigar store in Little Havana (area in Miami).  He has promised to use the 'leftovers' and roll cigars to send.  He packages them so they technically are not 'homemade'.  I know there are going to be some happy soldiers with Cuban cigars in their packages.
Also I went into a large national franchise store today (they wish to remain anonymous) and when they asked if I needed help and I explained I was shopping for my 'soldiers', the manager came out with a $500 gift voucher!!!!!  Wow I was blown away.  Oh and it was so much fun shopping on someone elses money.  I got some really great stuff.

USKiwi
 

Wow!!! $500 that is wonderful.  Congratulations!  You must have been shopping up a storm and then to shop some more, a junkie's dream come true!  Now if you could only find someone to pay to ship them.......lol  I am sure it will all work out.

Tell your friend's dad thank-you.  He will make some soldiers soooo happy. (I only mentioned hand rolled as opposed to machine rolled, not meaning homemade, because I know hand rolling is quite an art.) 

Vicki