Baby, It's Cold Outside!

 

It's not actually cold outside at the moment but it will be soon! 

I started dreaming up this package right around Christmas time when Walmart had their holiday fleece throws on clearance for $2.50.  I dug through the bin searching for ones that were more of a winter theme and not Christmas.  I managed to find enough for all of my missionaries...sometimes the stars manage to align just right. You could easily find winter themed fleece on clearance at the fabric store and you could make your own fleece throw.  Here's a link for an easy to follow tutorial:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-a-Tied-Fleece-Blanket/  In the tutorial they instruct you to use two layers of coordinating fabric.  I only ever use one.  Two is just TOO hot for my kids. Sometimes I cut and tie the edges...and sometimes I just cut off the salvage edge and leave it be.  You choose.  Easy.

Package contents:

fleece blankets

hot chocolate

mugs

Aromatherapy Rice Bag

(click here for instructions and printable)

snowballs

(found at Gordman's last year but you can make your own, click here

or you can order them online from here)

Snowball Cookies

(click here for the recipe and printable)

I went to the Dollar Store and purchased mugs, and hot chocolate mixes.  One for my missionary and one for their companion.  I tried to get them in coordinating colors with my package...I was using cool blue, white and silver.  I'm a little OCD like that.  I'm sure my missionary just rolls his eyes.

Click here to download the package topper.

Print onto white cardstock.  Cut out.  Place on top of package.

Don't forget to write a note on the back!

Aromatherapy Rice Bag

For my birthday this year our Relief Society gave me a Rice Bag.  Not sure what they're called...you know, those bags that are filled with rice, wheat, corn or beans that you can stick in the microwave? This will make a brilliant addition to my Baby it's Cold Outside care package!  I purchased a yard of two coordinating flannels - so they don't mix up theirs with their companions. If you are only doing a package for your missionary you can get away with just 1/4 yard. You can get 6 bags per yard.

Aromatherapy Wheat Bag tutorial:

- 1 -
Fold fabric in half and cut a rectangle measuring 8"x18"  (or whatever size you want it to be)

- 2 -

With right sides together stitch all the way around the outside edge leaving about a 2" opening on one of the short ends for turning and filling your bag.  Clip corners.

Optional ribbon tag:  You can add this if you choose...just cut a scrap piece of ribbon and tuck it into one of the long sides, pin in place and continue with step 2.  The ribbon just gives your missionary something cool to grab onto when they remove their bag from the microwave.

- 3 -
Turn your bag right side out.  Press.

- 4 -
 Using a cone made from an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper, fill your bag with 2 1/2 cups of whatever filling material you choose.  (I used wheat because I have a lot of that in my food storage.  I poured it into a metal bowl and added some lavender essential oil for fragrance.  Don't use too much...it's pretty powerful stuff but it's so soothing.)  Note:  I tried to use a funnel but it seemed to take for-e-ver.  A cone is much faster...

- 5 -

Fold your fabric in half and press giving you a stitch line.  Stitch in half.  (Stitching half-way ensures that your filler stays more evenly distributed and not all down at one end.)

- 6 -

Add an additional 2 1/2 cups of filler and stitch closed using a blind stitch.
If you're not sure how to do that, click here for a tutorial.

There you have it!  All done!

I folded mine in half and taped a tag on with a bit of coordinating Washi tape.  The instructions for warming and cooling the bag are on the back of the tag.
(You could just as easily punch a hole in the top corner and use it as a bag tag.) 
Place it all in a cellophane bag and tie it off with a cute ribbon.
(insert my missionary rolling his eyes here)

Click  on the photo's below to download the tag.
(I saved mine to a flash drive and had the copy shop print it so 
the back was lined up with the front when I cut it out.

bag tag front



bag tag back - instructions
(who knew you could also put them in the freezer?)

Snowstorm in a Box

I don't know about your corner of the world but in our corner of Utah it is January and it is BROWN.  This is not a normal color for this time of year for us.  Normally we are coated with lots of fluffy white stuff at this point in time but alas, this year we are not.  Surprisingly Ohio is looking particularly brown this year as well.  We've both been blessed with skiffs of snow but nothing that has stuck around or required shoveling (unless you aren't content to wait until noon just to see if it will melt off by itself).  Maybe it's all our fault . . . Mason refuses to buy proper footwear for the elements ("Already gone an entire winter without boots, why purchase any now?" is his rationalization).  I've prayed that he will stay warm and dry.  Mom's have a lot of faith where their children are concerned. Hence, no snow.

Our lack of snow has inspired the latest fun package that we've been working on and I can't wait to hear from him on Monday to hear how his snowball fight went (don't you just love Monday's?). 

Snowstorm in a Box

Contents include:

Snowflakes

(hand cut and signed by his family, cousins and just about everyone who could and would hold a pair of scissors in their hands...and wanted to humor me - I have great family and friends)

Tape

(for taping them to the windows or you can check out here or here for more display ideas)

2 mugs

(one for Mason and one for his companion)

Hot Chocolate mix

2 bags Snowflake Crunch

(recipe below)

4 pkgs. Snowman Soup mix

(recipe below)

Photos

(of our snowball fight - too fun!  You have to do this)

12 snowballs

(for their own snowball fight)

Click here for the "Where's the Snow" pdf for the top of your package

Snowflakes:

Who doesn't like to cut out snowflakes?  There's something quite cathartic about all the folding and cutting.  It's always a thrill to finally unfold your creation and discover the hidden beauty that lay within.  I set out paper, scissors and pencils along with some printed instructions for creating snowflakes during an afternoon when family was over.  It was fun to see the cousins gathered at the table cutting and chatting together. 

Snowball Fight:

I actually got this idea from Family Fun magazine while sitting in the doctor's office one day and it all snowballed from there . . . so to speak (see Family Fun Christmas, pom-pom snowball custom card, pg 83).  This part of the package was so much fun to prepare!  As family was arriving, we had them pretend to throw snowballs at the camera - just have them pose with their arms cocked and hands like they're holding a snowball.  There was absolutely NO snow (though it did snow a few days later and I was able to have a few of the kids pose again).  I told everyone that they could pose however they wanted so some posed like they were holding giant snowballs and I just purchased pom-poms of the appropriate size to match their outstretched arms.  Have the photos developed then simply glue the pom-poms on with a tacky craft glue.  I was able to find pom-poms in a variety of sizes for .49 each from the craft store.  While there (remember, I was at the craft store?) I found the perfect solution for keeping my 3-D photos under control during mailing.  This had been driving me a little crazy. . .

For less than $3 I purchased this cute little box in white that was the perfect size for my 4x6 photos.  Add a little patterned paper and a couple of stickers and voila.  Brilliant and cute.  Problem solved.

The photo below are three adorable kids who have moved in down the block since Mason has been gone.  My daughter Maren claims all three of them to be her very best friends in the whole wide world.  We've kind of adopted them to be our surrogate grandchildren.  Mason has never met them so we wanted to identify them in the photo.  When I was on my mission in Hong Kong many moons ago, the members taught me how to sign my name on a photograph.

1. You will need a small amount of water, a soft cloth and a pen (NOT a fine point).

2. Dip your finger into the water and wipe it over the area that you wish to write on.  Wait a few seconds for the photo ink to begin to soften - this doesn't take long.  Write your message.

3. Using a soft, absorbent cloth, gently wipe or dab off the water from the photo.

Snowman Soup:

My kids gave these out to their friends for Christmas this year so we whipped up a few extra to send to our missionaries.  The contents are: 1 hot chocolate mix, 1 candy cane, three Hershey kisses and a handful of marshmallows.  Easy and very inexpensive.  We put everything in a clear cellophane bag - I love these bags and use them for lots of things.  To me, they are a gift giving must have.  I used the 3.5x7.5 bag (6.99 for 100) from Orson Gygi's in Salt Lake City, Utah. Tie it all together with a cute ribbon and attach the "recipe."   Click here for the "recipe" in pdf form.  The recipe reads:

Snowman Soup

1 hot cocoa mix

3 Hershey kisses

1 handful marshmallows

Combine all ingredients together

and stir with a candy cane.

Snowflake Crunch:

My newly married daughter, Kiri found this recipe and it was our family "go to" treat during the holiday season.  It is insanely delicious!  Make sure to follow the recipe exactly and use the brands that are suggested.  Let your Snowflake Crunch cool completely, the put in cellophane bags. Fold down the top twice (to seal in the yummy goodness) and staple a cute bag topper over the fold.  You can download the bag topper here in pdf form.  Don't forget to make at least one batch for you and your family.  Better still!  Make one batch for you and another for your family.  It is that delicious.  Enjoy!

Snowflake Crunch

1/2 of a 14 oz. box (approx. 6 cups) Rice Chex cereal

you can substitute the brand but it needs to be Rice NOT Corn

1 12 oz bag Nestle White Chocolate chips

except NO substitutions - you will be disappointed in the taste and consistency

2/3 cup crushed candy cane or peppermint swirls, divided

Measure cereal into a large mixing bowl.  In a microwave safe bowl, melt the white chocolate chips stirring every 30 seconds until smooth and creamy.  Do not overheat.  Chocolate will burn easily.  Stir 1/3 cup of crushed candy cane into the melted chocolate.  Pour over cereal and stir until evenly coated.  Spread onto parchment lined or greased cookie sheet.  Sprinkle with remaining crushed candy.  Allow to cool completely.  Break apart.  This is where the parchment paper comes in handy.  Grab the sides, gathering contents of the tray together and give it a lite squeeze.  Keep doing this until the pieces are broken into more manageable bite-size pieces.  Grab the sides of your parchment paper again making it into a funnel shape.  Pour it into your container or cellophane bag then wipe off the cookie sheet and put it away.  I love using parchment paper and it helps to keep my favorite cookie sheets nice and shiny.  They tend to get dull when they are put into the dishwasher or over time from all the hot soapy water.

Homemade Snowballs!

A couple of years ago, my sister Katherine and sister-in-law Lynnae came up with an awesome activity for our family Christmas Bash.  We have a giant indoor snowball fight with homemade snowballs.  It is truly a blast!  They made lots and lots (remember I have a giant extended family) and lots of "snowballs" and after everything from the party is cleaned up, Frosty (who is not dressed up but just one of the nieces or nephews) brings in the bags of snowballs and the snowball fight begins.  There is nothing fancy about these snowballs.  They are just circles of white fabric - I used old pillowcases.  Run a basting stitch around the outside, gather in slightly, stuff, pull the thread tight and knot off.  Easy.  My daughter, Rebekah whipped up 12 in short order - 6 for each Elder.  They are going to have a blast having their own indoor snowball fight.  A nice way to work out the frustrations of missionary work with a little FUN!