The Beauty of Prime - sending love when you can't deliver

(Okay, so this post is specifically geared towards Amazon Prime users... BUT - the sentiment is the same whether you subscribe to this service or you drop a package in the mail yourself. You can also apply the same principle to ANY online retailer that you can ship through.)

There have been a couple of times recently when I have used Prime to send some love and support when I wasn't able to hand deliver gifts myself within a timely manner, or wanted something I knew would be useful that I couldn't get my hands on in any local stores. It's also a great option for anyone who doesn't live near you, or circumstances where you want to be "unobtrusive".

Have a friend whose family is facing a difficult circumstance? If you have their address, purchase a fun family game on Amazon and have it shipped directly to their house. Add a note in the gift options, or follow up with a card in the mail, that tells them to use it for some needed distraction, laughs, and family time.

Send a stressed-out girlfriend some chocolate, funny book or mommy devotional, a foot spa, etc.

A search for "toddler activities" will give you a ton of options, of all different price points for giving mamas something to keep their littles busy so they can put their feet up for a moment, take care of the baby, or just go to the bathroom alone for once. ;0) You can find options around five bucks!

Favorite books are easy to find and send through Amazon - many times these are perfect as welcome distractions, or encouragement through challenges. You can find thrilling best-sellers to help "suck in" a friend who needs a mental break, as well as topic-specific resources. CDs (do people still use those?) are also a great option if you consider their favorite artist or genre; or if they would appreciate uplifting songs of a religious nature.

Did you know that Amazon has a pretty good assortment of gift cards? When you don't have time to grab one from a specific restaurant, this can be a lifesaver. (I also like to order a couple for myself to have on hand already and stick in a card.)

Not only does the online shopping forum give you nearly unlimited resources, it's also a fun surprise to find an unexpected package on your doorstep! That moment alone could truly help brighten the day of your loved one.

Apply this method to a myriad of situations and purchases - just about anything can be bought on Amazon! (Or Etsy, or Ebay, or any retailer's website! Prime has the added benefit of "free" 2-day shipping, but you can always spend a little more to get expedited shipping from the other sources in most cases if time is of the essence.) All you need is the address of whoever you want to encourage. I've also used Pinterest for inspiration - by "stalking" a friend's board (okay, it's actually totally legit if you already "follow" them LOL) I have been able to discover perfect day-brightening gifts that I know have already caught their eye.



NOTE:  if you are indeed sending a purchase to a friend and choose to click the "This is a gift" checkbox, you MUST add something referencing yourself in the note option unless you want it to be anonymous. Otherwise, there is no way they will be able to find out it's from you! If you do forget, or if you just prefer, simply shoot your loved one a text telling them a package is on its way.

Oh yeah - for all you avid Amazon users, make sure that you are "in the know" about Smile!

What is AmazonSmile?

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization. You can choose from nearly one million organizations to support.
Find out more here.

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