With the holiday season over, the kids are heading back to school. College kids are packing up all the clean laundry they did while home and hitting the road back to late night study sessions, cramped dorm rooms, and frozen pizza meals. To make sure your college kid starts their winter term off on the right foot, here are few Tillamook care package ideas:

1. Who doesn’t love getting food in the mail? College kids may appreciate a good gift box most of all. The Tillamook Online Shop has cheese filled Gift Boxes for all the Tillamook fans far from home. If your college kid can’t get Tillamook at school, these boxes can be the perfect reminder of home and you.

2. College students seem to live in comfy t-shirts, grabbing whatever is “almost” clean to toss on before class. Sending a new clean tee is a great way to say, I’m thinking of you.

3. Everyone loves a surprise! A Tillamom recently told me she hid a loaf of her son’s favorite Tillamook Cheese with a note in his car before he left for college. The first thing he did after unpacking his car was to call his mom. “I know it was the cheese but I like to think he called because he already missed me.”

4. Once your college kid moves out of the dorms and into their first place, it can be the first time they are in charge of all the cooking. Sending them the Tillamook Cookbook is a great way to help them get a handle on yummy tasty meals that remind them of home.

5. Tilla-Moos are not just for little kids. Big kids love quick delicious snacks that are easily stuffed in backpacks for hunger stopping moments in class. You can send a big bag of Tilla-Moos to your big kid at the Online Shop.

By Kelly

Flickr/wwarby (Creative Commons)

How are you celebrating Halloween this year? We’re celebrating with Tilla-Moos instead of candy and our very own Tillamook pumpkin carving. Oh, and a sale! Stop by the Tillamook Shop to get 10% off everything Orange and Black!* Frighten your family with some of the tastiest cheese they’ll ever taste.

*10% off all orange and black items on the Tillamook Shop. Sale is valid October 14, 2012 at 10:00pm through October 31, 2012 at 10:00pm. Only valid for online purchases at shop.Tillamook.com

By Katie

What a fun contest! I hope those of you who entered had as much fun sending us your lunchbox tips, tricks and memories as we did reading them. It was REALLY hard to narrow it down, but after much deliberation, we have our three winners who will receive Tilla-Moos!

FIRST PLACE: J.J. Ordway

“My Mom always slipped love-notes into my lunch each day. You never knew where it would be…rolled up in my carrots on orange paper, between my Tillamook cheese slices INSIDE my sandwich…it was a mystery! It felt good to know that she remembered important stuff that was going on in my world. ‘You’ll do great on your math test today! Love, Mom’

Monday, my daughter starts her first day of Kindergarten and I plan on carrying on the tradition my Mom started 33 years ago. It was more than just a note, it was a reminder how much she cared. Much like how much Tillamook cares when they make the best cheese and ice cream I know of! Just hold back the urge to stick a love note in my Chocolate PB ice cream! I love you too!”

SECOND PLACE: Russa Kittredge

“I use a crinkle cutter to make Tillamook cheese ‘french fries’ for my kids.”

THIRD PLACE: Diana Warner

“Instead of using a ice pack I always freeze Tillamook yogurt and by the time they eat it it’s defrosted. I also make a sandwich with Tillamook cheese and use cookie cutters to make cute shapes. You can never forget writing on the napkin something cute so you always know they are thinking of you….”

Thanks to everyone who entered!

By Loafy

It’s that time of year already – back to school! What kinds of healthy snacks and other touches of love do you put in your kids’ lunches? What was your favorite food in your lunchbox when you were a kid? Share your lunchbox tips for your chance to win free Tillamook Medium Cheddar Cheese Tilla-Moos!

What’s in Your Lunchbox? Contest
August 29 – September 8

How to enter:

1) Read the official contest rules.

2) Answer the question “What’s in Your Lunchbox?” with your healthy school lunch ideas and other lunchbox tips. Share your answers with our communities on the Tillamook Facebook page, through Twitter (include @TillamookCheese and #lunchbox), or by leaving a comment on this blog post.

Prizes:

Winners will be selected on Friday, September 9.

- 1st place: 3 bags of Tilla-Moos + a Tillamook sweatshirt
- 2nd place: 2 bags of Tilla-Moos
- 3rd place: 1 bag of Tilla-Moos

By Loafy

There are so many national holidays that it’s hard to keep track of them all. National Picnic Day, however, comes at just the right time. The sun is sneaking through the clouds and flowers and vegetables are coming out (my peas have sprouted!). There’s no better time to have a picnic! My favorite picnic food is a classic turkey sandwich with an iced tea. And I never forget Tilla-Moos! These little guys are just the right size for any picnic basket.

What’s your favorite picnic food?

By Laura