2,530 pounds of mail...

On average an Aircraft Carrier receives about 2,530 pounds of mail in a single day! Just thought I would pass on a little info and some news to me about shipping care packages to our loved ones underway.

Be sure to scroll down to see what the United States Postal Service does for us.

A few tips & ideas for your care packages.

• Breakfast bars. Granola, cereal and power bars, cliff bars
• Glade Stick-Up
• Blanket from home.
• A big fluffy towel
• Instant coffee. You can get it in many different flavors.
• Powdered Hot Chocolate
• Calling cards
• Pictures of you
• pictures of family
• Zip Drive with a "Mix Tape" of MP3s
• Send pocket electronic games. About $10 each
• Make and send a miniature scrapbook
• Prepackaged Brownies & Rice Crispie Treats
• Snack mixes like Chex Mix
• Nuts - Cashews, peanuts, etc.
• Pretzels
• Rolls of quarters

ALL items which contain liquids and pastes (even in cans), put in a zip-lock bag, and a second one up-side-down from the first one. If an item can leak, it will.

Did you know that you can send the Priority Mail APO/FPO Flat Rate Box for a FLAT RATE, regardless of weight? PACK IT FULL! Its that same price to ship a box full or cotton balls or a box of magazines and books :)

~Plus you can go to USPS.com and get a pack of 10 empty boxes delivered to your home for FREE! If you're anything like me, every little bit helps :) Unloading three children to go in the Post Office to get one box then going home filling it and taking it back... Ya, one less errand is always welcome here :)

From the site...
Introducing a quick, easy, convenient and NOW 50% larger way for you to ship Priority Mail packages to military personnel serving overseas. The Priority Mail APO/FPO Flat Rate Box features predetermined rates regardless of weight (domestically) or destination, similar to our other Flat Rate products.

Some key benefits:

• Only $10.95 when used to send to APO/FPO addresses; $2.00 less than our domestic pricing.
• Box features the “America Supports You” logo and APO/FPO addressing block.
• The U.S. Postal Service offers free Package Pickup from your home or office at a time and place convenient for you. To schedule Package Pickup and for other pickup options and availability, visit usps.com.