College Care Packages by Ginny Baird

A new movement is sweeping our nation. If you have children in college, at least it appears to be! With my husband and I having six kids between us (currently ranging in ages from 19 to 31), we’ve had plenty of experience with having kids in college—and sending out those lovingly crafted packages that help far-away students feel at home. The funny thing is, neither my husband nor I remember receiving any care packages when we were at university. Either times have changed, or we had horribly bad parents.

One thing is clear. When I attended college, the institution didn’t subject my parents to a barrage of correspondence urging them to purchase pre-fab packages made by the university itself. These all come at a cost of course and are most especially promoted during exam season. I’ve never purchased one, but can see how they might be a boon to busy parents. For my husband’s and my part, some of the joy in sending a care package comes in creating it.

At times, we’ve sent themed packages, centering on a holiday when the kids wouldn’t be home, like Valentine’s Day or Halloween. The package might include some homemade treats along with a few nifty gifties. The sillier, the better, and the kids always enjoyed receiving the unexpected surprises: ranging from pumpkin straws to blinking light rings, which a few of them wore to parties. It really is the thought that counts, even when your child is left wondering, What were they thinking?

On one occasion our youngest boy asked me this when he discovered an unexplained stack of mini post-it notes in his box. Generally, everything in the package carries a significance. What was the meaning of this? The truth was there was a tiny corner of the box—among the Tupperware containers and little presents—that needed filling. I glanced around my office and…voila! The stack of mini post-its was the perfect fit. Besides, I reasoned, son could use them to bookmark certain pages during his…ah-hem…arduous studies.

Just this week, I sent out another care package to this particular child, who is our baby, hence the caboose in a long train of siblings who’ve gone through schools: all of them out of state! Much to our delight (and after some gentle nudging), Gordon opted to study at the University of Virginia, which thrills us on two counts. One, he is just two hours away, and two, we pay in-state tuition. This also means the United Parcel Service can get a package to him by ground service overnight. What could be more ideal for shipping a box of homemade apple cake, brownies and peanut butter cookies? I mailed it the day before yesterday, and received a happy text from Gordon that he and his roommates were already enjoying the goodies last night!

Here is an easy recipe for one of the treats I included.

Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup of peanut butter (both smooth and crunchy work great)

1 cup of sugar

1 egg

Blend everything together then form small 1 inch balls and press flat with thumb on cookie sheets. Use fork to form cross-hatch pattern in each cookie before baking at 350 degrees in a preheated oven. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown around the edges.

Our oven is quirky, so when I’m baking two cookie sheets together, it takes 18 minutes for both batches to be done.

Remove from oven and lightly press a Hershey’s Kiss into the center of each cookie. For serious chocolate lovers, use Hershey’s Special Dark Kisses. Let set on cookie sheet for five minutes then remove to wire rack until completely cooled. Yield 20-24 cookies.

Do you send care packages to your children, or do you remember getting them? Please share what you like to give—or once enjoyed receiving as a student yourself. Gordon has three more years of college left, so we’re looking for ideas!

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New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Ginny Baird writes contemporary romance novels and novellas. Book 3 in her Romantic Ghost Stories series The House at Homecoming Cove releases on October 15^th and is already available for Pre-Order. Find it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and iBooks. Want to keep up with news from Sweet Romance Reads authors? Sign up for the SRR newsletter today. Like chatting about Sweet Romance? Join the authors of Sweet Romance Reads in our cyber Café. Don’t miss our Café Open House October 17^th from 12 to 5pm ET. Save the date!

A Beachy Anniversary by Grace Greene

This is my anniversary month. Not an engagement or wedding anniversary, or the day I met my husband, etc., but rather July is the anniversary of the publication of my debut novel, Beach Rental. Four years ago, after many years of writing and hoping, my first novel was published. Beach Rental was the first of the Emerald Isle, NC stories series and in celebration of the anniversary—and in celebration of summer, summer vacations and beach trips—I want to share some of my beach photos from past trips to Emerald Isle. Even if you’re stuck at home this summer (as I am) there’s more than one way to enjoy the beach!

First, to find Emerald Isle on the map, go to the Outer Banks and travel south. When you get to Cape Hatteras, bear southwest across Ocracoke Island and down to Cape Lookout, then turn right and skip lightly over Shackleford Banks to the Bogue Banks on the Crystal Coast. Emerald Isle is on the island of Bogue Banks which runs east-west. I’m mostly a beach walker (as opposed to a sunbather or swimmer) so this suits me very well. I walk to the sunrise in the morning and the sunset in the evening.

Some mornings are misty, some are cloudy, but all are beautiful with a special mystery in the pre-dawn hours. I’m not usually an early riser if I have the choice, but as the sea birds skim the water hunting for breakfast and the sun begins to lighten the sky, I want to be out there with them.

These pictures are from my sunrise walks, but beach sunsets are extra special for color and drama, and for how they usher in the night. The nighttime ocean is dark with light captured only in the foaming waves. You are surrounded by dark in the eternal roar of tides moving in and out, while overhead a net of brilliant, countless stars blink on to rule the night.

In the sunny hours between dawn and dusk, you can appreciate the wide pristine beaches that stretch the length of Bogue Banks. These beaches are perfect for families. On the other side of the island is Bogue Sound with its own special character, but for me, it’s the ocean I love—its rhythm, its eternity. Regardless of what’s happening in the rest of the world, the ocean does its own thing. It does what it does without anger or censure or approval. It is inspiring and it is also deadly. I know that’s true because when I was thirteen I almost drowned—not at Emerald Isle, but at another beach. I used some of my memories of that event in Beach Rental.

It doesn’t look like I’ll make it to the beach this summer due to family responsibilities, but one of the joys of photos, and the written word too, is their ability to call to mind memories, including how it feels to have the warm sand beneath my bare feet and the cool leading fringe of waves tickling my toes, or, in particular, the memories of loved ones and sunny days of fun.