Amazon Haul - Prepping for OCC 2023

[@Lunafalls]

I have those same combs from Amazon. I'm including a comb with every Barbie or Chelsea doll (in addition to the child's own comb) . . . pink or purple, of course! 🙂 Little girls LOVE to comb dolls' hair!

[@drogers]

Those combs are awesome and what a great idea to include one for her dolls! Love that!

[@denise5457]

I enjoy seeing what others purchase from Amazon as well. Love those Melissa & Doug puzzles and the hankies are really pretty and special. I found some M&D puzzles in the January toy clearances last year at one store and they were so nice I regretted not buying more. I got them for $4 a box. This year the clearance on toys has been underwhelming. I need to pick up some of those soap saver pouches. Thanks for the reminder. I spent this month trying to get organized and restock on things I used up last year. I'm planning to continue packing soap until if and when it shows up on the do-not-send list. I'll keep putting it in a plastic container and/or bag and pack it near the top, just in case. My boxes usually go to some of the poorest countries in the world so I can't let go of the feeling that soap is an appreciated item. ❤️

[@drogers]

I agree about the toy clearance so far. Pretty underwhelming especially at Walmart and Target. My best toy deals have been at CVS and Walgreens! I love M&D too. Great quality! $4 a box is a fantastic deal! As we discussed...oh dear...getting organized is a mission for me! TTYS my friend!

[@courtneysumner7456]

Thank you for sharing these great deals/ideas

[@dawnepayne1314]

Great haul, Denise! I love the small pouches for jewelry. They will definitely make a special gift even more special! Thanks so much for sharing! 💜💜💜

[@drogers]

Thanks Dawne! How are you doing? I sent you something before the holidays. Did you receive it? Just wanted to be sure. Yes, the small pouches will be perfect for those small jewelry items! I have quite a few that I got on clearance last year! TFW!

[@dawnepayne1314]

Hey Denise! Doing good…just took a break for awhile 😊 Yes I received it! I sent you an email yesterday! Thanks again!💜💜💜

[@fedwards2023]

Hi Denise, Thanks for sharing your basics - these could almost fill a shoebox! Not to mention your OCC storage ... and its not even close to shoebox season! Looking forward to seeing your unboxings in March - ish.

[@drogers]

Very true! And these were just the basics! 😂How are you Fiona? I’m looking forward to seeing some of your beautiful boxes this year too! They always inspire me!

[@beckyblackburn2211]

Thanks so much for sharing these items, what works for you and the links! So helpful!

[@drogers]

You are so welcome! 🤗

[@dalehighnote6958]

The oriental pouches are lovely. Great deal on whistles and cap erasers. I really like the ornament key rings. Thanks fir sharing.

[@drogers]

Thanks Marlene! Hope this haul helped! I really wanted to do something fun and useful with those ornaments. This was a good solution! Hope you are doing well and are excited to start the 2023 packing season!

[@margaret5398]

Love this haul especially the purses it’s always great to see what others recommend and It’s amazing what similar items I can get always a great help. Thank you 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿☃️

[@drogers]

Thanks Margaret! I am so glad it is helpful! Good to hear from you!

[@reitab4963]

Can you share some of the games and other things that you laminate for your boxes? Thanks

[@drogers]

Thanks for watching! Yes, of course! I laminate a frog jumping game, a game using dice, tattoo directions, a photo of a child using a ribbon dancer, a photo of a child using a dry erase board, match game directions, flash card… oh so many uses. I hope this helps a little. I got my small laminator on Amazon and I love it!

[@reitab4963]

Thank you for responding! I love your videos.

[@drogers]

@@reitab4963 thank you!!!

[@reitab4963]

Where can I find those printables? Is there a website or do you have a video sharing those? Thanks for your help!

[@drogers]

@@reitab4963 send me an email and I’ll try to send you what I have. [e-mail]

[@maritzacopping3309]

TFS Amazon haul. How funny, I just received today the wood rulers. First time buying them. Am very excited to add to my shoeboxes this year. The little purses and hankies r so cute. And love the tambourines.

[@drogers]

Oh how funny! They’re a good deal! I use them for pencil packs and boxes! They fit so easily too! I’m excited about the little purses and tambourines. It’s always fun to get Amazon packages! Have you started packing yet?

[@maritzacopping3309]

@@drogersStill purchasing! And not on purpose! 😀 Am finding real good deals and you know how it is… .10 cent notebooks, .25 cents Pen and Gear colored pencils, Dolls! (wayyyy more than what I wanted to find since my focus are the boys), and the finger puppets!!! Can’t wait to start packing and watching ur unboxing.

[@drogers]

@@maritzacopping3309 me too! And I’m really trying NOT to spend but so many good deals out there!

[@amberpowell3423]

Hello, I am new to OCC so happy I found your and others videos about Occ I love seeing what / how ya'll pack your boxes 📦 I am starting this with my 2 boys my oldest is excited to help my youngest don't understand just yet but we are so excited for this tradition and finding things for our shoe boxes our 1st box theme is construction/ playdoh so we are finding things here and there for our box and can't wait for many more to come I love the videos they help with ideas of what to get / pack thank you ❤️

[@drogers]

Hello Amber! I’m so happy you found me and others to encourage your shoebox packing! It sounds like you have a great start and getting your kids to help is wonderful! You’re helping to inspire the next generation of packers! Best of luck with your construction/ play doh themed boxes! I did a few construction boxes this year if you want to check out that video! I’m glad the videos are helpful! Thanks for watching! God bless you for packing!💕

[@amberpowell3423]

@drogers thank you all for making these videos, or I never would have found or heard of OCC. Thank you 😊

[@sharonfasnacht9344]

Such a nice resource! Thank you so much! I didn't see the link for the larger washcloths. Last year I found a pack of 50 12x12 microfiber washcloths on Amazon for 18.99 and was very happy with them. They came in black, grey or white. I chose gray as I was afraid the white would get too dirty. I know that's not real pretty, but then there is more money to spend on something else. 🙂

[@drogers]

You are right! I forgot the link to my favorite wash cloths! I have added it now! The 12x12 cloths sound great! I’ve sent white before too. I think it’s just fine. The kids will love the softness of it. Thank you so much for letting me know and thank you for watching!

[@kimmclean9933]

Thanks for sharing! You gave me some good ideas! Can't wait for the upcoming unboxings!

[@drogers]

Thanks for watching Kim! I hoped it helped! I’ll be unboxing at the end of the month! I’m excited to start sharing!

[@HomeShowLife]

I did the exact same thing with the Walmart ornaments. However, I used the “precut” chains in assorted colors. They turned out GREAT.

[@drogers]

Awesome! Did you get them on Amazon? I wish I could see them!

[@Nancy-pj7xt]

Hi Denise! Loved the haul. I would say two great minds think alike but it way more than two! I have always used the wood rulers in my boxes. I also bought tambourines and maracas for my boxes this year! I have packed handkerchiefs in the past for older girls but this year I’m doing fans. I’m finding a lot of great quality toys on Temu. I also got my soap savers in bulk there at a fraction of the price. They have cute magnetic fishing kits for toddlers that are wood for $2. Check them out you might find even more goodies for your boxes😊

[@drogers]

Oh we do think alike! I just placed my first order with Temu and I ordered the fishing rods! I’m waiting on my order now! I’ll have to check out the soap savers! Maracas sound fun! I’ve sent handkerchiefs before and love them but I’ve found so many bandanas in the last few years that I stopped sending them. Then, for some reason thought about sending them again and remembered how much I love them! Thanks so much for watching and sharing your purchases too!!!! It’s going to be a great packing year!

[@valswain]

Love everything! The keychains you are creating are so cute! Thanks for sharing, friend!

[@drogers]

Thanks friend! Glad you enjoyed my Amazon haul! Loved getting that gift card from my hubby. He's a keeper! LOL

[@jillbaird949]

I didn’t do any soap last year. Didn’t fill bad not putting it in. I just added more fun to my boxes in place of the soap. I will do the same this year.

[@drogers]

Thanks Jill for the feedback! I am thinking of doing the same. We can just add more fun items to our boxes in replace of it. I will see what OCC decides before my final decision. Hope you are well and getting ready for 2023!

[@surfergirl326]

Wow! I didn't know soap isn't on the list anymore 🥺Thanks for letting us know.

[@drogers]

It is still allowed as of now but no longer recommended. Customs issues.

[@surfergirl326]

@@drogers Oh ok, that's kinda confusing though 🤪 I guess I won't be buying any soap for a while either.

[@byrdfeed9071]

I love to see what others buy on Amazon, too. Love the solid pencil pouches. I think I actually prefer them to the mesh ones. I smiled at the little oriental satin jewelry pouches. I purchased the same on Shein a couple of months ago thinking the same, how special it would be to pack jewelry inside. Love them. I thought that was a great price on the 240 pens. Plus, it includes red, which, for some reason, are always so much more expensive than black or blue when you buy them separately. You really put your gift card to good use, Denise. Thanks for sharing.

[@drogers]

Thanks Trish! I think I prefer the waterproof pencil pouches now also! They seem a bit sturdier. Oh too funny that you bought the jewelry pouches too! They are beautiful! WHY are red pens so much more expensive? Doesn't make sense to me. I have had a hard time getting them for a good price so yes, this deal including them was a good one for me. Yes, this was a large gift card. Much more than I expected from my hubby but he knows how much I use amazon for OCC. Good guy....well once in awhile...LOL...I will keep him. TFW friend!

[@susanslick71]

Love the hankies!

[@drogers]

Me too! They are so dainty!

[@tracystoaks6573]

You sure put that gift card to great use. I bought alot of the ornaments at Walmart thinking I'd put them in bead kits, but now I think I will also make some key chains. That looks like a good kit. Congratulations on a great haul.

[@drogers]

Thanks Tracy! The kit is really nice and I think well worth the money. The ornaments turn out really nice with the added key chain I think! Thanks for watching! I did put that gift card to great use....almost gone now! :(

[@eastcoaststories]

Thanks for sharing your Amazon haul, Denise! I know you pick great items for OCC shoeboxes and filler. Love the Melissa and Doug puzzle set. I'm always running out of combs too! lol I order the same combs - so nice. I've also used the waterproof pencil cases. Especially since last year, most pencil cases sold out at Walmart during back to school. Oh wow, the wooden rulers look very good quality, and great price. So cool of you creating keychains to the ornaments. Fun! The silk pouches are so pretty. I will be putting that on my list! The tambourines are so fun! Thanks for sharing, Denise!

[@drogers]

Thanks Sharon! I’m ALWAYS running out of combs too! I probably should look into a bulk purchase somewhere. Maybe down the road…. But I love the quality of these in the meantime. If you do an Amazon haul, I’d love to see your go to’s! It’s always helpful to see what fellow packers like from there! TFW my friend!

[@bluffcitybounty2122]

Love your hauls, Denise! Those mini pouches are so sweet and will be perfect for a special jewelry gift. Also really like the bright colored rulers. Tambourines are too fun! Great picks on all. Excited to get packing myself!

[@drogers]

Thanks Morgan! It was fun shopping with my Christmas gift card! Woo hoo! Yeah, I love those little pouches! So silky and special! And tambourines are so fun for the little ones! I did start packing! 10 done so far! Herrrrrreeee weeeee gooooo! Thanks for watching Morgan!

[@batmansboxes4936]

Nice haul Denise! Those little purses are super cute. Love the tambourines, kids have so much fun with musical instruments. How sweet, hankies Never even thought of those! So girly girl and I can picture you pairing those with a dainty little outfit. Ok sooo the wash cloths, I took a chance on a 5 pack on Shein bc they were .89 cents. They are the same as the ones we all get from Amazon 🤣🤣. They are the smaller size though. Maybe 9x9? I’m actually impressed with them. Thanks for sharing, great stuff! PS- are you bored yet? Said no one ever🤣

[@drogers]

Hiiiiiiiii my friend! Nope, not bored yet! Not enough time in the day! Lol! I ordered some washcloths from Shein and they were awful quality! Never again. I did get some I liked a little bit but they are an odd size… like a rectangle. Shein is so hit or miss for me. I’m trying Temu to see what I think. Just placed an order. I love those handkerchiefs! So sweet and pretty. I can imagine a young girl keeping it a long time. It’s good to hear from you! Hope you are doing well! Thanks for watching! ❤

[@batmansboxes4936]

@@drogers 🤣🤣. Yes have to agree about Shein hit or miss! Let me know how you like the items from Temu, never heard of it. Come to Florida, we need a lunch date and of course, lots of laughs 🤣🤣🤫🤫

[@LKJagoda]

Nice haul. FYI if you can find them at your Walmart and Targets, the 24 unsharpened pencils for 97 cents is still the best pencil price per pencil I have routinely found. I just got 10 boxes over the weekend with my groceries. Having to buy them piecemeal is a hassle but at under 5 cents a pencil it does save me money. I am also doing a back and forth in my planning about buying a case of #2 pencils from H and J closeouts. With the OCC discount they are 4 cents a pencil, but you have to buy a lot all at once and they don't have erasers. But since I include tons of erasers, both large and pencil cap, in every pencil pack... if the Walmart and Target basic pencils stop being available, I probably will go that route next.

[@drogers]

Thanks Lynette! I do buy those un sharpened pencils at target and Walmart! I do need to make a Target run tomorrow so I’ll add that to my list. I like to send a combo of sharpened and un- sharpened. You know what I’m missing? Target novelty pencils in the Bullseye section! I saw none at BTS, Christmas or valentines yet. They were always fun to get when they clearanced out. Have you seen any? Also valentine pencil tops from DT are nowhere to be found in my area! Yikes! If you buy from H&J, let me know if you like the order! TFW friend!