What is there to know? I enjoy packing shoeboxes, concerts, adventures, making videos and talking about random things. So in essence, this channel is about the fun stuff in my life.
Let's try to keep things encouraging.
I try to upload as soon after the event date as I can, but sometimes things get in the way (internet connections, trips, work, life getting really busy).
I really didn’t realize there was no tracking from Canada! I wonder why this hasn’t been implemented? Thanks for sharing Nicole! The note is so important! ❤
Thank you for being so transparent!! This was my first year packing all year and I was absolutely insane and set a goal of FIFTY boxes. Well I still live with my parents and they are not happy. We have no basement or attic or big closets so you can imagine how my dining room looks right about now. My parents want me to downsize for next year but I already have things left over from this year and I found a lot of clearance like 10 cent notebooks. Like how can I not get them?! When Christmas and Valentines went on 75-90 off I got a lot of plushies and they make great wows! I have packed 56 boxes this year shopping strictly deep clearance and I am going through my totes to see if I can build any more. I think I can push out 25-28 more boxes and that literally WILD and I am feeling so overwhelmed because we are down to the last few weeks and I am by myself too!!! I am still shopping and will continue to because I want to bless as many kids as possible! I'm leaving it in Gods hands, sorry Mom and Dad! Have you ever done a fund raiser for shipping costs? I am thinking I will set something up to get some help with the shipping.
Sending you hugs! Yeah I’m with my parents still too and sometimes they give me looks when I come back home from shopping even though I store everything in the basement 😆 I’ve never done a fundraiser for the shipping costs as my job pays pretty well. Main piece of advice I can give is to alternate months shopping and to only buy in quantities that you want to do. But don’t worry, sometimes packing less shoeboxes is more ❤️
I hear you girl! I go with my husband to dollar tree and I find really cute things. So I try to stay out of stores now. So now I am overwhelmed with toys for Occ. I also wanted to do only 20 boxes. Like you it will like 30. Yikes. Fillers here we come.
I’m in the U.S. and “from the future.” Lol Most of this seemed obvious, but this was really helpful! I thought it would be neat to include money (I’m a banker,) as a keepsake, but I guess I can see how it would not be appropriate. My son received a $2 bill when he was saved. ✝️ Bubble level ruler ok! Be careful of war-items like army men and camo and multi-tools for saws and razor edges. Aces, kings and queens among dice are also a no go.
I should really make an updated version of this 😆 I can understand money as a keepsake, but unfortunately it would be considered a donation or cause challenges at the distribution. As of 2024, 4 suite playing cards and dice are now allowed!
I also think Aug is the time to start thinking about it - with all the back to school sales! I have been doing this for over 20 years so I definitely remember the old boxes. I head this up at our church and it's ALWAYS overwhelming. But it's also worth it.
Fillers are a bit of a struggle for me. I always end up thinking I could just pack another box with what I have 😆 That being said, I do have some fillers planned for this year 👍
@@Kit.Nicole I did 24 boxes one year. And I realized it was too much for one person. Had trouble fitting in the car. Lots of trips back and forth to the car. I cleared the top shelf of my closet just to fit stuff for it. Also my purpose is just trying to do nice things for children. I found I kept having to buy to even out the boxes. It was too much. So I do less boxes, but also fillers. Then I am not responsible for every box. And can buy outside the toddler age, I do boy and girl toddler boxes. With S&H to $10 and then $4 per box unless you get them in bulk each box is already a fair amount. Many people commit to that and just can’t fill the box but send it anyway. Or new to packing and don’t realize the liquid in a snow globe so their box is partly emptied at the processing center. We have all been first time packers. It’s like paying it forward. I have 20 plush, some kaleidoscopes and sound tubes, toy cars safe for toddlers and I’m about to put together safety kids for 10 and up kids. They will be a whistle and a hand crank flashlight. Another year I did notebooks and color pencils in a pack and crayons and full size coloring books in another pack. Another notebooks, pencil pouches with pack of pencils and sharpener. I put them in cello bags. They took a lot of room up in the car. But they are easy to fold over, yet substantial and a only few bucks to make school supply sale time in August.
I was thinking of reducing my boxes next year, but it doesn’t look like it’ll be the case 😆 If I use anything that I have currently have in my stash for fillers, it makes me feel like I have to do more shopping next year 🫠
Very cool to see the older boxes. And yes, I’m surprised shipping is not higher now than it is! I do like the thicker cardboard. Hang in there Nicole. We all get a little anxious this time of year. I finished early this year due to my surgery date and it has been so wonderful to feel done! Thanks for sharing and happy packing!
I hope your recovery has been going well! And it’s good to see that Samaritan’s purse has been handling their funds well so the shipping costs stay low ❤️
Sometimes I get overwhelmed as well! It's hard to make all the decisions involved with packing boxes. I decided I would pack a certain number of boxes this year and then changed my mind 3 more times before landing on the final number 😂 God has helped so much to let go of my perfectionist tendencies but I am still a work in progress!
Haha I agree about the decision making! It was so nice when my bestie came and helped me pack a few boxes and she was the one making the “creative” decisions 😆 And the perfectionism is so real! I like to have everything nice and even and similar. I have to allow myself some variance 🙃
Wow, TWO Barbies, a cuddly stuffy, a menstrual kit, fun socks and underwear, a dress and tights, a bead kit and fantastic assortment of school supplies! What a wonderful box for a 10-14-year-old girl ❤
The two Barbies are a definite wow! But oh my, so are the dress and tights. I love the pink recorder 🩷 the plushie is very cute and you packed a very nice supply of school supplies. The math kit and calculator are so great. TFS, Nicole.
For games, I like to put in tic tac toe. It's about 4-5 square inches, made of felt (I think). Nice and flat with the back of grid having a flap that contains the cut-out X's and O's. Comes in different colors, from Amazon (also in bulk).
@@PPorell777 I actually order some from Amazon that were the flower and leaves tic tac toe instead of X and O. They are very pretty and I hope to order a second set!
You are very good at including such great, age appropriate, fun and important items for this age group of boys. These are wonderful boxes! TFS Nicole ❤
Very nice! You have a good variety of items and I love the calendar pictures inside. I know they will get a lot of good out of the heavy socks, so don't lament sending them.
This box is perfect. Wow! The wow gift really is wow. The calculator is really nice. The socks are so nice, I have a feeling he'll love them. They look so comfortable. The bears are so cute but not overly girly. They are perfect, love the sweet face. I pretty much love everything, so well thought out and doing 2 boxes at the same time is great! I'm going to that. Sometimes I drive myself crazy over thinking my next box, lol. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks! Those bears are quite perfect for the boys. I can relate to the overthinking! I find that when I’m gathering items for a box, my mind is already picking out items for the next boxes too 😆 But doing multiple boxes at the same time is handy when items can quite fit in one, you can try placing it in another right away
Nice box and great job getting most all of it packed for a special young lady. Fun Sparkle Girlz doll, cool coloring book and colored pencils, crafty bead kit, cute bracelet, pretty hair accessories, fun and sparkly t-shirt, groovy corduroy bag and new school supplies…all things that will bring joy to a young 10-14 year old girl. TFS ❤
I love your box, you fit everything in so nicely. I like the grey with the burgundy bag, which I really like. What a great find. The doll is so pretty and she has outfits I noticed especially for Hairmazing dolls that are a lot less expensive than Barbie. Enjoyed your video and look forward to your next
Thank you! I was questioning including those grey items, I think it turned out pretty well. I love those sparkle dolls too! One thing I really like about them is that they also have angled feet compared to the Barbie’s that have flat feet now. Makes it so much easier to find shoes
Thank you and God bless you for sharing your amazing packing of gifts for this amazing young woman 👩 Similar to you, Kit. Nicole, I too 'challenged' myself to pack a smaller shoe box ( the width and height is a tad bit smaller than Canadian OCC GO box)📦 jam-packed full of gifts for a young boy 10 - 14 years young 🧒 Kit. Nicole I didn't realize that the Canadian OCC GO Boxes are small, I am going to have to re-watch your videos so I can get some tips 😊 Anyways, Kit.Nicole, I absolutely love her Beautiful beach Barbie, coloring book, and all her fun and practical gifts. 🎁 ❤ 🎄
Thank you! To be honest I had wanted a different style of tape when I went to the store, but this was one of the few that they had and it turned out perfectly!
It turned out to be a great shoebox for a 10-14-year-old even without the little stuffy and lights. The recorder and doll are wonderful wows! Love how the long skinny box allowed you to fit them in so easily. TFS Nicole. ❤
