Even though the work it takes can leave us bone tired, there is nothing more worthwhile than experiencing the holidays through our kids’ eyes. That feeling still holds when they are all grown up. My two babies are in their twenties, living in apartments in big cities, immersed in their very first jobs, and on fairly tight budgets. Since they are “too old” to trick-or-treat, and there is zero chance little ghosts and goblins will be knocking on their doors, I decided to bring Halloween to them.
Step one was to dust off their old candy baskets (yes, I still had them), and then the treasure hunt began! I wanted to fill their buckets with small, inexpensive, but meaningful gifts.
Here’s what I found for the perfect Halloween care packages for my grown-up kiddos.
Publix – My daughter’s favorite soup is Zoup’s Chicken Pot Pie, and since it was a BOGO day, I got one for my son as well. I also added some Reese’s Pumpkins and those mini orange pumpkin candies (divided evenly, to be fair). Lastly, since they both are going to experience harsh winters, I threw in some Carmex.
Five Below – One can never have enough fidgets, so I got them each a spinner and a squeezable hacky sack.
HomeGoods – My happy place! I picked up a set of jack-o-lantern dish towels that I could split between them, and then I got these fabulous squirrel candle holders and a perky chicken for myself.
World Market – My big scores here were tiny candles in vintage-looking glass containers (on sale), meringues from The Netherlands (my son was just there!), and cat napkins that resemble Lionel, my daughter’s roommate’s orange tabby.
Dollar Tree – I am having more and more success here! I scooped up some dainty glass pumpkin bowls with LED tea lights.
The results!:
The final touch was a personalized note from their dad and me. It was a “treat” for me to discover the perfect goodies, not break the bank, and celebrate with them in “spirit!”
Do you do holiday care packages for your kids? Let us know and share your ideas in the comments!
