In January I posted my final care packages for the year. It feels wonderful to have sent one almost every month this year to a friend or family member. I thought it would be fun to compile them all in one place... so here they are! I hope you feel inspired to send a little something to someone you love.

1. A copy of The Help, herbs de provence, lavender soap, chocolate.
2. Tea, a movie, lavender oil, chocolates.
3. Coffee, lip balm, chocolates, a copy of A Prayer for Owen Meany.
4. Gossie board book, a little outfit, BabyLegs.
5. Lots of chocolate, lip balm, BabyLegs, Pride and Prejudice board book, a disc of photos I took.
6. Fresh bread, cheese and prosciutto.
7. Cards, photos, and discs of photos I took for three families in Sweden.
8. Tea, chocolates, organic almond soap.
9. Tea, chocolates, bath soap.
10. Some fresh flowers and a new tea cup can be just the thing to treat yourself... which is important too.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

These past two months I put together two really sweet, simple care packages for two of my closest girlfriends. They both had birthdays in November and December so I wanted to give them each a little something. The care packages are similar, a nice tea, chocolates, a letter and a nice little soap/bath soak.

This concludes 12 months of care packages. I know some of you have sent your own (thanks for telling me about them)! It really feels great to send a little package in the mail to someone you love. Even a nice letter can really make someone's day. I will continue to send care packages and will share the contents from time to time here.

This month I sent a few little care packages off to Sweden. I was hoping to send them last month but it took me a while to edit all the photos from our trip and get them printed. I sent photos, a disc of images and a card to three families who we met and spent time with during our trip this summer. To the family we stayed with in Stockholm I added in two little hair clips from CocoPenny for the two little girls. Our time with these families meant so much to us and it felt great to send a little something to them.

Last month I got a care package... well technically I won a great giveaway from Honey Kennedy. I know the idea behind this feature is to send a care package each month but I loved being the one to get a cool package this month. I have never won a giveaway and I am was so excited about winning this one. I love tea and drink it every day. I'm obsessed with PG Tips. Having a special teapot makes my morning tea just a bit more special. Thanks Jen for the lovely teapot, cups and tea!

Teapot and Latte Bowls from Schoolhouse Electric.

p.s. I'll most likely be skipping the August Care Package since we're going to be gone the whole month!

Last month I decided that Kyle needed a care package. He had surgery on his shoulder, had some stress at work, was working hard at home... the man deserved a little special something. Kyle loves few things more than good meat, delicious cheese, and fresh baked bread. Before his surgery Kyle was baking bread every weekend, and he is planning to sell all of his home-brewing equiptment and buy all the things necessary to do his own charcuterie. Since you can't knead bread with a bum shoulder, I went to our fabulous local bakery and picked up a baguette, and to our local farm stand and got some prociutto, and two kinds of cheese. I chose Miramont Brie, and Telaggio D.O.P. Perolari. We buy the Telaggio cheese all the time, it's salty and flavorful but not too overpowering. It goes really well with procuitto.

Sending a care package, or putting something simple together for a friend or loved one, or a stranger for that matter, is one of my favorite things to do. If you decide to make one, please tell me about it!

We're still getting settled back in and in the swing of things. I missed April's care package because we were just so busy! Just before we leftfor Seattle, I sent a care package to my friend Steph in San Diego and her sweet daughter, Lucia.

Sometimes we girls just need a few little treats...

For Steph: Lots of dark chocolate and dark chocolate covered nibs, photos of Steph and her kiddos (from my trip to L.A.), my favorite Rosebud Salve
For Lucia: l'amour BabyLegs, Pride and Prejudice board book (see more board books here)

Join in and send a care package this month... or every month. It feels great to do it and it really brightens the day of the recipient.

With the trip to LA I'm a little behind on some posts. I thought I'd get caught up and ahead on my trip... boy, was I delusional with my expectations. This was a little care package I sent to my sister just before we left for our trip. She's expecting a baby boy in June! I can't wait to be an Aunt. I already love this little boy so much...


In Baby H's care package... a nice card, Gossie (one of our favorite kids' books), Carter tie onesie and jeans, and two pairs of BabyLegs. The Argyle BabyLegs are one of my favorites but I also fell in love with the monster ones! How perfect for a boy?

Take a few minutes to send a little care package to a friend this month. It's my new favorite hobby. If you do send one, please come back and tell me about it!

I am a few days late on posting this care package because I, well, i was a few days late in sending it! A couple weeks ago my wonderful friend and mentor, Deborah, broke her leg in three places. She had surgery last Monday and is on the mend, but the recovery process is going to take a while. Gigi and I are heading to LA in a couple of weeks and can give her a big hugs when we get there but, until then, this care package will help to cheer her up.

A beautiful card I've been saving for years, waiting for someone who really needed glamorous girls in glitter adorned swimsuits. Burt's Bees Pomegranate Lip Balm. Coffee beans from our local roaster. Two dark chocolate bars. A copy of my favorite book,  A Prayer for Owen Meany.

In case you missed the last couple of Care Package posts, I'll be sending a care package every month this year. It just takes a little thought, a few bucks, and a few minutes and it can really help brighten someones day. If you want to join in, please do.

This month I sent a little care package to a sweet friend who was having a bit of a hard time along with the prescription for baths, Sex and the City (all six seasons) and lots of hot baths. This care package was sent with lots and lots of love.

It contained my favorite Tension Tamer tea, some DVD's, a couple of dark chocolate bars, a tiny bit of lavender oil, and a letter.

It's so easy to spend a little time putting together something like this and it feels wonderful to send a little love in the mail. I'm going to send one each month this year. Join in if you want!

Back in August I told you about my love for sending care packages.  I am a believer in the idea that, a small act of kindness, goes a long way.  My favorite way to spread kindness is through a thoughtful care package.  It's all the better if you don't say anything and just pop it in the mail.  Then someone you love gets home from work to find a few little treats.  I am going to do a little care package every month this year!  I'd love if you'd join me.  It really takes only a few minutes and it feels great!  If you decide to join in and send one too let me know.

We don't have much money right now but I'm getting creative!  Here's a little low-budget care package I sent to my mom...


A small container of Dr. Bronner's lavender soap for cozying up cold evenings, and some herbs de provence because my Mom loves to make yummy soups all winter long.  I bought the herbs in the bulk section and put them in a jar I already had.


I also sent her a borrowed copy of The Help.  Even though she has to give it back (to Kyle's Mom) after she finishes it, she still gets to enjoy it, and a Theo Hazelnut Crunch chocolate bar.

And, of course, a nice letter.

I love sending a simple care package.  It really takes very little time and money, just a little thought and a lot of love.  I guess my love for care packages comes from when I would spend a week away at summer camp.  The mail would come and everyone would get excited when the mail truck came.  Not every year, but some years, a package would arrive from my Dad and Nance.  In it would be a funny card and some little treats.  Over the years I have enjoyed sending care packages for numerous reasons (when someone isn't feeling well, when someone I loved was abroad and was craving peanut butter, when someone was struggling) and I've also sent quite a few for no reason at all.  This care package that I just put together and sent was long overdue!  It is for my cousin and his beautiful family who we last saw a couple of years ago on our honeymoon!  Normally, I try to keep my care package spending under $20 but since this one was headed all the way to Paris, I splurged a little! 

A thoughtful card.

BabyLegs for their new baby who is due in September!  I told you they are my new favorite gift!

My favorite chocolate bars.

My favorite kid's movie for Camille.  Poppy and I have watched this hundreds of times.  I never get sick of it AND it's set in Paris!  Parfait!

These are for Aurelie who is pregnant.  I'm a bit late on these since she's due in a couple weeks but they are still good for post pregnancy!

This photo is mounted on wood and is actually for Aurelie's grandparents.  We stayed at their amazing B&B (in the photo) for a few days on our honeymoon.

A collection of photos I took and (finally) got printed from our trip to France.  Isn't Cami adorable!

My challenge to you is... send a care package before the end of the month!  Send it to you best friend, your mom, your uncle you haven't spoken to in a year, your best friend's dog.  I few things I love to put in my care packages are: a great used book, dark chocolate, tea, a photo if you have one, your favorite movie, something special if the recipient is under the weather, Burt's Bees products, lavender oil... The list goes on and on.  A great thing to do is just head to the store and wander through the natural food's section.  They often have tons of small things that would make a perfect care package.  The only thing that must be included is a thoughtful card.  In fact, if you are really low on cash, just sit down and write a thoughtful card to someone you love.  The whole idea is just to take a few minutes and a few dollars to show someone that you are thinking of them and that you love them.  Please let me know if you are planning to participate or come back and let me know if you sent one!

A quick side note.. G and I are hopping in the car to head to Seattle for an audition!  I'm not sure if I'll be able to do a post tomorrow, if not, have a lovely weekend and I'll be back on Monday!