For full instructions, check out Roots and Wings.

Additional Tips: see if you can find a plastic jar (like a peanut butter jar) so that the end result weighs less. This will be beneficial for those of you who are shipping overseas.

First of all, it’s not just any lip balm, it’s Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm. This is a product suitable for men AND women, don’t worry. Plus, there are a ton of different skin care products to try, and they are all quality.

(And don’t bees make a cute addition to any Spring-themed care package?)

Check out the Men’s section of the Burt’s Bees website, or head to amazon for a Head to Toe Starter Kit.

Holiday-themed packages are among the easiest, and the month of March is no different. A few weeks before St. Patrick’s Day, send your missionary a package full of gold chocolate coins and rainbow skittles. This simple gift will delight the recipient, and requires very little effort on the part of the sender.

Get Creative!

This is a really fun idea, and you can use it multiple times over the course of a year. Just think of all the color combinations and cute messages you can come up with! The ordering process is very simple, too. Just visit the following site for directions:

http://www.mymms.com/customprint/?sc_cid=DR_LV1

Create Your Own Decorations

There is no right way to “heart attack” someone for Valentine’s Day. These hanging hearts are simple and fun: all you need is pink and red paper and several lengths of string. Or apply the hearts horizontally on one longer piece of string for quick and easy decoration in the missionary’s apartment. Other items you can mail include heart-shaped confetti, Valentine candies, paper plates and napkins, doilies, and hand-written notes.

–there is absolutely NO sewing involved!

What’s more, you can pick any pattern you like from your local fabric store. Fleece is usually inexpensive, but depending on the size of the blanket, it may get

expensive to ship, so think twice before mailing your missionary a new comforter for his king-size bed. Best to keep the size modest, but still warm.

In case you’ve never made a fleece blanket, I found step-by-step instructions at the following blog:

http://abigcupoftea.blogspot.com/2008/09/cozy-tie-fleece-blanket.html

What to include:

1. Chocolate pudding mix (be sure to get instant – it’ll keep things simple)

2. Oreo cookies (try to find the six-packs for cheaper shipping)

3. Gummy-worms (spice it up with sour gummies)

There are not a whole lot of ways a person can mess up dirt cups, but perhaps you’ll want to include some instructions, just to avoid unforeseen misunderstandings. If you are unfamiliar with this recipe, the instructions are simple: Make the pudding, scoop some into a cup, crush the Oreos on top (it’s supposed to look like dirt), and then decorate with gummy worms. It’s that easy! You can send a single serving’s worth, or enough for your missionary to share with his whole apartment — a very good way to get the “in” with his friends. You’ll be the coolest girlfriend/mom/sister on the block!  :)

An Indoor Garden

Sending your sister missionary a mini-garden is easier than you might expect. You’ll want to start by picking out some colorful flower pots and purchasing a small amount of potting mix. If you can only find soil in large packages, don’t worry: this product is usually inexpensive, and you can scoop the amount you’d like into a ziplock bag for mailing. Make sure the pots are secured with bubble wrap if breakable, and include several packets of flower seeds. Be careful to choose smaller flora, especially for the more petite pots!

Go From Funky to Fresh

One of the products my husband loved on his mission was axe body wash. You can find this in almost any store nowadays, in a variety of scents. I also included a black loofah with much assurance that it was not a woman’s product. The masculine loofah may take some searching, but it’s worth it! Whatever you do, don’t send pink!