College Survival Kit

originally posted 6/17 ~ these make great graduations gifts:

I have made these in the past for my nieces going off to college - it's a practical, useful, and very easy to make gift. Find a container that has lots of dividers, and fill it up with all those little things that everyone eventually needs but never has.

I found this double-sided case at Hobby Lobby but usually I use one of the clear plastic holders like the kind that were originally meant for organizing embroidery thread and has customizable dividers.

Hit up the dollar store, grocery store, drug store, or even look around your house for (unused!) things that a college kid might need (and not even know they are going to need!). You can find most everything in mini travel sizes now which makes putting this together so easy.

Have fun thinking of things to put in the survival kit - some ideas:

• gift cards for (emergency) fast food - pizza, subs, Taco Bell, Starbucks
• cotton balls and q-tips
• small sewing kit with pre-threaded needles in basic colors, a couple buttons, safety pins
• tiny stapler, paper clips, rubber bands, sticky notes, tape, krazy glue, a sharpie pen
• phone cord
• tylenol, airborne, throat lozenges, rolaids, neosporin, bandaids, chapstick, sunscreen
• lysol, tide stick, lint roller
• hair ties, nail clippers, tweezers, nail file
• tiny toothpaste, mouthwash, floss sticks
• batteries, matches and a tea light
• gum, package of fruit snacks, package of almonds 

I found the "college survival kit" printable here and taped one on each side. Just 'cuz it's cute.

I wrapped it in tissue paper and made one of my favorite tissue flower bows for the top (click here to see how to make them!)

Emergency Kit

I honestly don't know how this emergency kit is going to help if we have an emergency...but you are "supposed" to have one and goodness knows I'm a rule follower so I made one for us. It's in a 32 gallon wheeled covered trash can and stored in the garage - so here's my question: if there is an emergency and we need the items in this container and I can get to this container that means that I am at my house during this said emergency and that means I have access to all of the supplies I have in my house - why do I need to have this giant emergency kit then? Do you see my point? I already have canned goods and candles and tools and all this stuff in my house - why do I need it in a container in the garage? That sounds like a little rant I know, but whatever. I'm told to have the emergency kit and so I have the emergency kit. I suppose if we had to leave the house we could wheel this trash can full of supplies away with us? I can barely lift it so it's going to need to be wheeled away or put in the car and driven out. Whew, anyway...

That was a super long intro wasn't it? Let's start over. I have a list of things that are recommended to have on hand for emergencies - I gathered up all of the supplies and layered them in a large covered trash can. See the list of what's in the kit below. I also have a list of what food and perishables are in the kit and once a year I change them out for fresher ones and use up the older ones if possible.

Starting with the heavy things put them in the bottom and stack your way from there. I bundled up different "categories", i.e., pet supplies in one small tote, tools in a small container, food in 2 plastic crates, etc. and at the top I have the 2 lists in clear page protectors so at a glance I know what is in there and what needs to be changed out once a year. Some of this isn't food we eat on a regular basis like pork and beans, canned green beans, and sausage stick - but they're long lasting good options that keep well to have if there really is an emergency.

Do you guys have an emergency kit? What's in yours? Note that ours contains wine and cookies - (1) we'll be the fun people at the emergency shelter and (2) they say you need some comfort items if you are displaced from your home - chocolate might melt so I have fig newtons for a little sweet treat just in case we need one.