Every year, for as long as I can remember during my married life, I’ve helped my husband with Holiday cards and small gifts of appreciation for his clients. I add that to my personal cards and friends and family gifts.
Frango mints hold a dear place in my heart. When I was in elementary school, Mom would drive me to the city (Seattle) for back-to-school shopping at Frederick & Nelson’s, an old fashioned department store. Frederick’s had an amazing toy section, books, clothing, even a Steuben glass room and a whole floor of fabrics, patterns and notions. We’d have lunch at the counter in the basement and after lunch, Mom would buy me a single Frango mint.
When I have a Frango mint, I remember Mom.
For the past years, I’ve mailed out Frangos to my husband’s clients. It’s quite a project and I’m pleased that over our quiet Thanksgiving weekend I got started.
I enjoyed when my daughter was in high school and helped me with this project because two hands are better than one!
I’ll never forget one year in the Palm Springs post office, when the postal worker asked me to re-label my stack of Frango Mints to save money on mailing. My daughter and I wrote new labels as fast as we could, and the postal worker was ringing them up and punching into her computer. We actually had teamwork going and it didn’t slow down the process at all for those waiting behind us. It looked like it did — because of us filling out new labels — but in reality it took no more time. The postal worker was moving as fast as she could and she hadn’t caught up to our new labeling.
But the comments and cursing I heard that day! My daughter had my back and defended us loudly to those behind us. I was afraid one impatient person was going to come to blows with us. Or my daughter would get into a fight defending me.
I’ve made friends with our postal workers in Carefree (like I did for 30 years in Palm Springs) and gave them their own box of Frangos. This will be my third year of overwhelming the small Carefree post office with packages. They’ve told me to never come in on Mondays and what hours are best. I’ve also learned to come in on multiple days with no more than ten to a dozen boxes. It may take a few more trips, but I understand how people in line get annoyed at having to wait.
I’ve never had a bad experience with a postal worker. Just the people waiting behind me. I’ve also found people in Carefree are happier and more patient than the Palm Springs customers.
Thankfully, gift giving in our family has gotten smaller and easier. It’s spending time together that’s most important. I can’t wait for Christmas this year with our kids coming to our home for the first time to celebrate. The past few years, we’ve rented a place in Palm Springs or Santa Barbara to be together.
So what are Frangos?
What a wonderful tradition. I’m sure the recipients appreciate that sweet treat!
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Thanks! They do appreciate them. Plus I order a few boxes for our neighbors.
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Love this! My mom-in-law Maxine loved trudging to Marshall Field’s in Chicago every December to get ‘fresh Frangos’. 🥰
I love that! Fresh Frangos. 😊
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This had become such a fun thing- the annual Frangos mailing! It seems that you’ve perfected the method after so many years 🙂
You’re correct. I’ve gotten a better method, plus started earlier this year. I used to send Kringle from Larsen’s Bakery in Ballard. But I found the people are more excited to receive Frangos than a giant pastry.
Do not know much about Fangos, but it sounds too much like ZZ Tops Fandango, and since I liked that album, by some kind of twisted thought process, I must like Fangos.
That’s funny! 😁
I’m glad that it will be a joyful family reunion at Christmas this year for you all.
Me too! I’m so looking forward to it.
Happy holidays in advance my friend
Thank you! 😊
You’re welcome
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I’m sure it’s all in my head, but with Thanksgiving coming later in November this year, it feels like Christmas and other Dec. holidays are sped up this year. Good for you that you’re ahead of the game. Ha, ha.
I would start a lot earlier. but I have to wait for the Frangos to go on sale around Thanksgiving! It makes a difference to get them half price 😊 I did get all my US post labels and envelopes a week ago, so I could start on that.
I love Frango mints! They were a holiday tradition for me also. I remember going up to the Frederick and Nelson in Seattle to get them. What an excellent tradition to mail them to people. I admire you for your efforts. Do you need my address? Lol.
That’s so awesome that you went to Frederick and Nelson for Frango mints, too! I’d send you a box, but I’m in tight spot. I ordered Frangos on Nov. 22 and the majority haven’t shipped yet! I received one small package.
We always loved going to Marshall Field’s for Frango Mints. Imagine – I would always bring them for my German ex/mother/n/law until my ex/husband finally told me that she didn’t like them. For her, it was German/Swiss chocolates or nothing. LOL. I STILL BUY THEM! It’s tradition.
That’s so funny about your ex mother-in-law! Frangos are such a Christmas tradition. You reminded me of my husband’s grandfather. Every Christmas he’d give us a box of dates. My husband explained to him that we lived in the date capitol of the country. Plus we didn’t like dates, but I think we kept that part to ourselves.
Thanks for giving me a laugh. Gifts are from the heart, right.
That’s right! 😊
Oh, I loved the Frederick and Nelson’s in downtown Seattle. What a treasure! And Frangos – yum!
Your consideration for postal workers is lovely — and not surprising. Wonderful that your kids are coming to your home for Christmas! Yay!
Wasn’t that a great store? I could spend all day in there as a child. So much to see. We are so excited to have the family for Christmas!
I had to google Frangos. I’m not familiar with them but they remind me of Fannie May Mint Meltaways which were around our house growing up. I remember getting a huge bag of pistachios every year from one vender when I was working. I was pretty bummed when he left his company. 🙂
I love pistachios. I haven’t heard of Fannie May Mint Meltaways, but Frango mints do melt in your mouth. They’re delicious, but part of enjoying them, is having them associated with Christmas and having a box once a year.
Never had a Frango, but I’m sure I’d love it! I don’t doubt your recipients appreciate them, too.
They are so good. If you want to try one, you can order Frangos online from Macy’s.
What a sweet tradition! You are so kind to the postal workers. I love that about you. Merry Christmas! xxoo, C
Thank you! Merry Christmas!
How kind of you, Elizabeth, and I’ve never heard of Frangos, but I’m sure I’d like them. It feels good to give, especially at this time of year. I agree that as we get older, spending time together is most important. 💞
Frangos were a Seattle tradition since the early 1900s at a department store called Frederick and Nelson’s. The store was eventually bought out by Marshall Field’s, now owned by Macy’s. Such a tradition where I grew up in Seattle.