Did you know that you can send a pair of socks in the mail with 2 stamps! I tested it out recently and it worked! They can’t be crazy thick socks and it may need to be local, but it was still fun to try! The idea came to me when I remembered a girl from my college dorm would receive socks from her grandmother. She sent them to her in a card and back then it only took 1 stamp!
Knowing my children’s’ normal holiday parties will we be virtual this year, I was trying to think of ways to make these remote occasions more memorable and more connected. And that’s when the random ‘socks in the mail’ memory came to mind! So this year, my daughter’s Girl Scout Troop will be doing a Secret Santa Silly Sock Swap Virtual PJ Party! Say that 3 times fast!
The girls usually do some sort of Secret Santa gift exchange but I thought this would keep it simple for the mom’s involved too! And to make it a little more interesting, we’re including secret messages on the inside of belly bands for their socks. Each girl will get to read it aloud during the party – like a fortune cookie but with socks! The messages are either inspirational or funny, and all of them have to do with socks or with feet! Haha. It’s practical, silly, and sweet all at the same time!
If you’d like to do the same with a group of friends, a classroom, youth group, Girl Scout/ Boy Scout troop, or your favorite tribe – please feel free to use the free invites and messages included in the link below! I created both the pink and navy invite options that are pretty generic so you can text the graphic with more information to follow. And the quotes can be sent to participants as separate files or in full sheets with options to choose from! Everything is in the zipped file.
I’d love to hear if you end up doing this! Our troop meets later in December and I’m excited to hear the giggles as they go around sharing their silly socks and secret messages!
Here are a few tips for coordinating:
– Ask participants to RSVP by a certain date so you can distribute names to swap.
– Tell everyone to mark the back of their envelope with “DO NOT OPEN UNTIL VIRTUAL PARTY“
– Email each participant the name of whose toes toes they’ll be keeping warm this winter along with one of the belly bands so the messages aren’t repeated in the group.
– A thin pair of socks will work best if mailing them. Keep the socks flat but wrap in an 8.5 x 11 paper like a letter and send in a business envelope with two stamps. The envelope I sent was a little puffy if that helps to know!
– Suggest a Mail-By date so everyone gets them in time for the virtual party.
– Make it a virtual PJ party too!
Other ideas:
I have found that most virtual gatherings are more fun when there’s a purpose, an activity, or some sort of common thread – the type of things that used to bring us together in the first place. Here are some other ideas to help give participants something to do or talk about so that everyone has a chance to participate!
- Make it a sticker swap for kids! Stickers are always easy to mail.
- Local Restaurants/Business gift card exchange! Everyone buy and swap from their favorite hometown places to help the local economy! You can wrap them with a positive message for the new year and reveal them live. This is a great way to support and share information about businesses you love!
- Pick ONE common item everyone could use and decide to swap that! Examples: a pair of gloves, pot holders, kitchen towels, a fun piece of jewelry, etc.
- Host a virtual Pokemon Card exchange for kids! Decide whether to use New or pass on cards you no longer need. Mail them wrapped up. It will be exciting for kids to open either way but be sure everyone is on the same page.
- Humorous holiday cards. Ask each person to send their Secret Santa the funniest holiday card they can find. Have guests open and read them one at a time during the virtual party so that everyone can enjoy a good laugh!