norfolkgirl

If I can't arrange for someone to carry things over I try to mail stuff immediately after Thanksgiving. That said cards don't need that long but better safe.... (and then those I do late still have a chance of getting there)

Weeze

Oh dear, I'd better start shopping!

Bob

Middle of November if you want to send stuff cheaply, gets expensive by end of first week of December...cards are worth sending in around the end of the first week of December in case they get stuck in a glut of mail, especially if you're sending square cards.

Mummy in the foothills

Home goods here still doesn't have crackers in. World Market did, they looked a bit chintzy. They had loads of McVities on clearance, hob nobs, etc etc They also had the Cadbury advent calendars in (got two) plus loads of biscuits.
They also got in the Christmas puddings and mince pies. So I have to go back for those.
Got some of those Bavarian sausages from Trader Joes (Thanks whoever suggested that) along with the weetabix I'll give the sausage reviews once I eat them

Bob

And we were looking at an apartment that was down the road from a weetabix factory, the whole town smelled of cereal in the soggy morning

Mummy in the foothills

That would probably put me off for life.
I know theres a Dog food factory we drive past once in a while (an hour from us) and ewww the smell, I don't know how people live by it. However the General mills factory in Lodi smells delicious when they are cooking.

tonrob

Does anyone know how I can fit all these Pot Noodles in my suitcase?

traceym

All the clothes I brought are being left at daughters so I can fill my case with tea bags and choccie

Bob

hack off a leg and stuff them down your trousers?

tonrob

Nah, that's where I stuck my black pudding.

MrsBriggo

Do you have to declare the food when you enter? If so what do they say? Is there a limit on the amount you can bring? (clearly as long as it's within your luggage limit)

Jerseygirl

There is a dollar limit...for US citizens and residents it's several hundred dollars. Basically food you can't bring into the US is soft cheese, meat, any products containing beef, fruits and veg. You have to declare everything...I usually put candy, tea, cookies, cheese etc...you don't need to be specific.

tonrob

What JG said.

I usually bring in a bumper haul around 3 times a year. Occasionally they get a bit excited (e.g. last night at BOS - "So when you say tea bags, is the tea actually in bags like regular tea bags?" and "Why are you bringing baked beans to Boston?) but mostly they don't even bat an eyelid.

The two times I've ever had my cases opened was where when we somehow got onto the subject of the actual flavours of Pot Noodle I had (and how could a C&M Pot Noodle possibly be vegetarian?) and also the time I mentioned the word honey. Even then, both of those instances brought on a 3-minute disinterested rummage at customs before being send on my merry way and with my stash intact.

Jerseygirl

Whenever I declare I'm bringing in tea bags my bags are always put through the x-ray machine.

scrubbedexpat097

That's because you have the guilty "tea smuggler" look on your face