Holiday Gift Ideas -- Letters to Santa Products from the USPS (Review)

 

"To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Letters to Santa program, the Postal Service is offering a variety of Letters to Santa products — irresistibly priced and simply adorable, according to a reliable North Pole source.
 

Park your sleigh at select Post Offices to browse the Letters to Santa holiday gift center filled with Bright ideas and gifts. If you prefer shopping online visit the Postal Store at usps.com/shop/holidaystore.

 

The In the Mailbox Milk and Cookies Set at just $19.99 is ready to ship and includes everything you need to leave Santa a snack on Christmas Eve — a melamine cup, a melamine plate and two cookie cutters; all featuring artwork derived from the 2012 Santa and Sleigh Forever stamps.

The In the Mailbox Holiday Bear, affordably priced at $11.99, is ready to ship by folding him up, adding postage and sending him off to deliver some love. This holiday bear holds a red gift tied with a green ribbon to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Letters to Santa program. One paw of this adorable brown bear also features the 2012 Santa and Sleigh Forever stamp.

“The Letters to Santa products make great gifts and are so easy to ship — whether you choose to mail them using a Priority Mail Flat Rate Box, a decorative ReadyPost carton or bubble mailer, or send one that’s already boxed,” said KellySigmon, vice president, Channel Access for the Postal Service. “It’s so convenient to shop and ship for loved ones this holiday at a Post Office near you or online at usps.com.”

Here are some other festive gift ideas from the U.S. Postal Service that celebrate the 100th anniversary of the  Letters to Santa program and feature artwork derived from the 2012 Santa and Sleigh Forever stamps:

Letters to Santa Holiday Ornament: $14.99 — This metal ornament features the 2012 Santa and Sleigh Forever stamps design. It’s the perfect addition to top any tree.

Letters to Santa Children’s Book: $9.99 — This children’s book tells how Santa makes children’s dreams come true with help from the Postal Service. The book includes four pieces of stationery, four sticker sheets and two envelopes, so kids can write to Santa. 

 

Letters to Santa Writing Kit: $3.99 — The Letters to Santa Writing Kit is a great way for children to write their gift wish lists for Santa’s consideration. The kit includes everything a child needs to write to Santa, including two letters (one blank and one fill-in-the-blank), two envelopes, two coloring sheets, a 4-pack of Crayola crayons and a sheet of stickers.

Naughty or Nice Magnetic Pad: $4.99 — Keep track of who has been naughty and who has been nice with this 9.5 inch high x 2.75 inch wide, 70-page magnetic note pad and candy cane pen.

Letters to Santa Pocket Notes: $3.99 — These pocket notes are great for making lists of holiday errands and presents that still must be bought. Each pocket note is a 75-sheet pad of pocket-able paper with a magnetic clasp to secure the note pad. Letters to Santa pocket notes are perfect stocking stuffers.

Letters to Santa Small Gift Bags: $2.99 — The three Letters to Santa small gift bags are perfect for stocking stuffers.

Letters to Santa Gift Tags: $1.99 — The Letters to Santa gift tags add just the right amount of cute to any gift this season.

Letters to Santa Stickers: $1.49 — These package stickers remind everyone that Santa is coming to town and add an extra little touch to your cards and packages.

’Tis the season to shop, ship and save by choosing attractive, affordable Letters to Santa gifts from the Postal Service. Make this the best holiday ever, by selecting Santa-themed gifts that are in the box, in the bag and ready to tag!  All products are available in select Post Offices and at the usps.com Holiday Store — usps.com/shop/holidaystore.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations."

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My Thoughts:

Will you be heading the post office this weekend to drop off your holiday packages for shipping?  If so, make sure you check out their line of 2012 Holiday gifts.  I was recently sent a few of their adorable products, and can't stop raving about them with family and friends.  Prior to reading about the USPS Holiday Store online, I had no idea they offered gifts like this for the holiday season.  But, I am so happy I had a chance to review them firsthand, as they have made buying and shipping gifts for my neices and nephews who live out of state so much easier.  And, I know that when they receive their packages in the mail, they will fall in love with the In the Mailbox Milk and Cookies Set and Holiday Bear that they will find when they open these ready to ship gift packages, as did my daughters, when I shared the gifts with them.

My oldest daughter is starting to understand about Christmas, and loves to bake with my husband and I.  So, this year, she will be helping us to make holiday cookies to share with family and friends, as well as leave a few out, with a cup of cold milk for Santa.  And, thanks to the folks at the USPS store, they have created a fun Milk and Cookies set that even Santa will love.  The Cookie Plate and Cup are adorned with the 2012 Santa and Sleigh Stamp, and are made of plastic, so you don't have to worry about your little ones dropping and breaking them, as they help you put them out for Santa on Christmas Eve.  When I showed Savannah the set, the first thing she asked was when we would making cookies. I told her that it wouldn't be until this weekend, but she couldn't wait to try out the cookie plate and mug, so I ended up filling them with her favorite snack and water.  Here are a couple of photos of Savannah trying out this affordable In the Mailbox Milk and Cookies Set that is available at the USPS Holiday Store online, as well as at your local post office:

In addition to the In the Mailbox Milk and Cookies Set, I was also sent the In the Mailbox Holiday Bear, which you have to see up close, as he is so cuddly and cute looking.  Arabella instantly took to the bear, and couldn't stop snuggling up next to him.  And, when Arabella was not holding onto her bear, Savannah was hiding him away in his box, which folds up easily for quick and easy shipping to that special someone on your holiday shopping list.  

The final item from the USPS Holiday Store that I was sent to review was their hardcover "Letters to Santa" book, which includes four sheets of stationary, 4 sticker sheets and 2 envelopes, that you children can use to write their letters to Santa.  The story itself is cute, and will keep your child's attention from start to finish.  Both my daughters loved the last page, which has a pop up of Santa and his sack full of toys.  Even though they are both too young to write their own letters to Santa, I was able to have Savannah tell me what she wanted and wrote the letter for her on the cute stationary, which we put in the envelope and closed with a sticker.  What a fun idea the USPS had for their "Letters to Santa"  storybook and writing kits.

So, with the holidays fast approaching and you running out of ideas to give the children on your shopping lit, why not head to your local post office (or shop online) and pick up any of these affordable and oh so cute holiday gifts, that will definitely put a smile on any child's face.  And, you don't have to fuss over finding just the right size box for the cookies and milk set and holiday bear, as you ship the gifts right in the boxes they come in. How easy is that?  Simply lift, fold, peel and seal. Then, address the side of the box in the space provided, add postage and hand to the person at the USPS counter.  Easy as 1, 2, 3.!  

  

Disclosure: I was sent samples from the USPS in order to write up an honest review.  The views above are mine and mine alone.