Back to School: The Official Unofficial Guide to Packing for College

I already mentioned what I couldn’t have lived without in my dorm in this post. Now let me share what you actually need to bring with you! 

Clothes/Closet

• Baskets/bins for off-season clothing (you never know when you’ll need a swimsuit)
• Scarf/belt hanger
• Jewelry hanger (mine is similar to this)
• Thin hangers
• Shoe storage

Bring whatever clothes are in season for your respective school. If it is warm, then bring summer clothes! Wait until you go home for Thanksgiving to grab the cold weather wear; however, DO BRING a heavier jacket and some long sleeved shirts and jeans to get you through those unexpected chilly days before break hits. Continue the same rotation with each season and class vacation, and you should be more golden than my Starbucks Gold card.

Bed

• Body pillow
• 2 head pillows
• 2 sets of sheets
• Mattress cover
• MEMORY foam topper
• Comforter or Quilt (I loved my quilt)
• Extra blanket

Desk

• Put me on the wall
• Magnetic pin board (you’ll love it and no sharp pins to step on)
• Calendar
• Write with me (a large pencil cup)
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Sharpie marker
• Pencils
• Pens of many colors
• Highlighters
• Write on me
• Notebook paper
• Notebooks (college ruled)
• 2 binders (you’ll most likely not use them at first then realize you need them to hold the massive amount of papers you’ll accumulate)
• 3 Folders
• Sticky notes
• Note pad
• Index cards
• Envelopes and stamps (for when you need to mail important papers home)
• You’ll use me, I promise
• Stapler
• 3 hole punch (get one that can punch more than 2 papers at a time)
• Tape
• Power strip
• Calculator
• Paperclips
• White out
• Glue stick

Bathroom

• Towels
• Scrubber
• Robe or towel wrap (these work great)
• SHOWER SHOES (communal bathrooms)
• Shower caddy (communal bathrooms)
• Hand Mirror
• Brush and combs
• Hair ties and bobby pins
• Nail clippers/file , nail polish remover wipes, 2 neutral nail polish colors, 3 fun nail polish colors, hand lotion
• Body lotion
• Razor
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Shampoo/conditioner/body wash
• Hairspray and dry shampoo

Laundry

• Pods (they work great, but make sure the washing machines can handle them because some can't)
• Color catcher sheets (they will save your life and clothes)
• Dryer sheets
• Stain remover spray
• Laundry bag/basket (like the laundry bag in the photo above? find it here)

Some Random Items

• Ziploc bags
• Lint roller
• Sewing kit and safety pins
• Umbrella (so important, photoed above)
• Disposable dishes
• Reusable water bottles/thermos
• Dish soap

Bring whatever snacks and drinks you like! Brands are totally up to your discretion, but refer back to this post if you are trying to make a decision between items.

When it comes to storage, visit The Container Store. They have plenty of great deals and storage ides for dorm rooms!

Good luck, and if you think of anything else or have any questions please comment!

XOXO,

Jena

Back to School: Get This, Not That (for your dorm)

As August begins new college freshmen are anxiously looking forward to being out of their parents house and into the dorms.

While it is rather exciting and refreshing to start a new year of school for everyone, let’s focus on the fresh faces with no experience under their belts.

Last year I was most excited to move away from home and have a fresh start! Pardon the pun. I prepared for months by pinteresting and following the every move of fellow friends who were going through the same experience.

To help you out, whether this is your first rodeo or fourth, I have crafted a list of get this, not that items. I feel like there was a television show or some book that was “Buy this, not that.” If you know what it is, please leave a comment!

Get scrubbers, not washcloths!

Scrubbers: I was given a Supracor Bath Mitt for graduation and have not looked back. After receiving it as a gift, I went out and purchased the SpaCells Facial Sponge as well. These are both great because they are naturally antifungal, antibacterial and allergen free (loofahs are not). They also fit nicely and dry quickly in your shower caddy.

Photo from supracor.com

Washcloths: I bought about six washcloths and took them all home by Thanksgiving break. First, they were inconvenient to bring into the communal bathroom (if it dropped on the floor accidently then I was done using it). Second, dorm rooms are a lot like hotel rooms in the way that wet items do not dry quickly.

Get a memory foam mattress topper, not a foam mattress topper!

Memory foam mattress topper: When I told my mom that I wanted to buy a mattress topper she basically rolled her eyes like it was not a necessity. WRONG! Buy a mattress topper! My roommate had a memory foam mattress topper from Bed Bath and Beyond, and let’s just say that her bed was so much more comfortable than mine! Because you sleep on it every night and your academic performance depends on your sleep, please invest in a nicer mattress topper. I wish I would have gotten a better one, especially since I will be sleeping on a twin XL bed again in my sorority.

Foam mattress topper: Because my mom wasn’t very enthusiastic about it, I picked up a generic foam bed topper at Target. While it did provided me with a quarter of an inch of protection from my old mattress springs, it didn’t do a great job. As the school year progressed, the topper gradually widened on my bed in the area I slid off. Not cool! This is one of the pieces I wish I would have invested in.

Get a large Keurig, not a Mini Keurig!

Keurig K45 Elite Brewing System (large): For graduation I received a mini Keurig brewing system. Knowing my favorite thermos cups did not fit under the mini system, I traded up for the larger Keurig system. Looking back at the past year, this was probably one of the best dorm related decisions I made. Granted, I am someone who drinks at least one hot beverage a day. I love coffee, but I also love tea. The best part of having a large brewing system was that I didn't need to fill the water reservoir before each beverage (especially since my dorm was a community bathroom and the water was all the way down the hall). The reservoir easily held four regular sized beverages.

Keurig Brewing System photos from keurig.com

Keurig K10 Mini Plus Brewing System (mini): If you don't plan on drinking hot beverages frequently, the mini brewing system is for you. It would also be great if you have a sink located in your dorm room! I consider this brewing system for those who enjoy drinking a hot beverage out of a mug, leisurely. Personally, I am more of a on the go person, so the larger system that my travel cups fit under worked great for me. This would also be a good brewing system to start with if you don't know how much you will be enjoying hot beverages because this system is less expensive compared to the larger system.

A few other tips:

-Get two sets of sheets. These from Bed Bath and Beyond are cute!

-Bring a body pillow if your bed is up against the wall (you want something between you and the cold cinder block wall). This one from Bed Bath and Beyond allows you to put a pillow case on it, great for matching your bedding!

-An extra long phone charger will most likely come in handy

-3M Command strips are wonderful to help you personalize your space

I think the main thing to remember when purchasing items for your dorm is to really consider what you plan to use. I would personally go for the better quality or more expensive items if I knew I would be using it a lot and in the future. If you plan to use something for just the year and never again after that, I would suggest getting the generic brand.

Good luck!

XOXO,

Jena