The mere thought of shopping for college fills me with a great deal of excitement. I picture myself hopping from Bed, Bath and Beyond to Target to Harmon Beauty Supply, loading up a shopping cart with the essentials, some indulgences, and those must-have cutesy items to make my dorm room feel like home. My mother and I are all smiles and giggles as we go from aisle to aisle, looking like we walked straight out of The Donna Reed Show (except with up-to-date outfits, of course).

And then we actually go shopping.

You see, my mother is the Jewish mother. She makes all other Jewish mothers look negligent. Although it is purely out of the kindness of her heart, when we go shopping, she seems to be stocking up for an underground bomb shelter. She goes for the ultra-massive-enormous bulk pack instead of the three or four I’ll actually use during the school year. She does not seem to understand that I’m not going away forever; there will be times during the year when I’ll come home with an empty suitcase, only to fill it up with more supplies for my room. Plus, every store I could possibly need is within walking distance from campus. Read More »

I’ve started preparing for my post graduation depression/emo stage. I’ve bought the tissue boxes and I’ve prepared the soundtrack (Seasons of Love on repeat). But I also made a proactive step of creating a list of things that I know I absolutely won’t miss- that way when I’m putting on my fifth layer of black eyeliner and tattooing tears on my face I’ll remember that there were some bad things about college.

STUDYING

I always start my studying with a lot of energy and excitement. I have blank flashcards stacked next to fresh pens and my unwrapped books. I put on my fake glasses and start poring over the material faster than I can highlight. Three minutes into this invigorating “studying” process I’m bored. I only have two more tests left and then I will never ever have to study ever again. Never again will I have to eat breakfast, check my e-mail, and simultaneously flip flashcards and mumble answers to myself. Read More »

[Welcome to my Weekly Love List. A list, on all things I love. Because if I love them - well then obviously you may (and should) love them too. As the Backstreet Boys song says (and yes I am actually quoting them) “My Love is All I Have To Give.” So with that throwback, here are this week’s list-worthy things…]

1. Old navy. Okay so Old Navy is not new- but it is list worthy, and let me tell you why. They have STEPPED UP their styles, but have kept their prices down- which makes me want to get jiggy at Old Navy. C.U.T.E. tanks for $10? Now that is something worth loving.

2. Hey, It’s Free! Couple your college budget with the failing economy, and the fact that air is still free seems pretty amazing. But, thankfully, this blogger came to the rescue with free stuff for all! Check it out for free loot like Free MP3s from Amazon.com, free food, etc.

3. Kindnotes.com – With Thanksgiving and the holidays just around the corner, here is a cute gift idea that is affordable, original, and filled with love. A custom made decorated jar with 31 mini-printed envelopes for each day of the month. You can either write a personal note on each, or pick from a library of over 300 different messages. After all, it’s all about spreading the love. Read More »

You’ve spent more time at Bed Bath and Beyond in the last two weeks than you ever thought possible.

Twin extra long sheets: Check.

Color coded notebooks/folders: Check

Sweatpants for every day of the week: Check

You have everything you could possibly need for college…or so you thought. Below is a list of 5 must-have items for every college student. You know; the things that you would never think of, but really can’t survive without.

Time to make one more shopping run. I know you never want to see the inside of a Target again, but suck it up; you are going to need these.

1. Rain Boots. I never wore rain boots at home because if it’s raining you just don’t go outside. Back in High School you drove to class and maybe an umbrella is all you needed. But in college you have to walk to every class and sometimes that can be quite a lot of walking. Investing in some wellies will definitely be worth it. There is nothing worse than arriving to class with water seeping through your shoes and waterlogged socks. The good news is rain boots are all the rage right now, so you can find them everywhere (and not get ridiculed for wearing them). Read More »

I woke up the other day and realized, “I’m moving into my dorm room in a week.” Although an exciting thought, I immediately became aware of how stressed I was considering I hadn’t pack up a thing…or cleaned my room all summer.

I looked around my room, which literally looked like the Tasmanian Devil came through, and began to freak. My clothes were everywhere (and not laundered), my desk was littered with piles of mail from Alabama, bank statements and various other stuff that had piled up and I was in no way ready to pack up and ship out.

I took a breath and relaxed. The packing needed to commence. So, before I even touched this hazardous scene, I thought of things I could do to make my packing experience easier. I made a list lots of lists. A list for the kitchen, living room, bathroom, my room, school supplies, etc. I shopped, I packed, I conquered. Here are some tips I’ve learned on how to pack for college:

1. Take a breath and calm down! You’re finally going to college. This is going to be the most exciting time of your life, so stop stressing out and just enjoy the fact that you’re starting a new part of your life.

2. Write down what you have and what you need. Like I said before, LISTS. If you have something, you don’t need another one. I made lists of what I have, what I have that I need to replace, what I need, what I can get when I arrive at school, and what my roommates are bringing. I promise you, lists will keep you so organized when you’re packing because you actually see what has been done and what you still need to get. Read More »

Hey ladiiiiiiiies!

Aren’t you sick of your man going to Home Depot every weekend (word!) to buy more big-steel-things with levers and springs and stuff (uh-huh!) when he should be taking out the trash (snap, snap)?

Well the time has come, girls: Her Depot is here!

Her Depot – yes, I’m serious; that’s the moniker – is a “sister store” of the popular chain of home improvement stores…with a female twist!

Instead of purchasing important items like snowblowers and aluminum siding you can buy real home essentials like flowers, storage bins, furniture, flowers, super cute kitchen stuff, pottery and flowers.

Ladies love flowers – am I right, ladies? Read More »

I’m having a Sex and the City déjà vu moment. I was watching the episode where Miranda decides that she’ll buy all new bed sheets under the theory that if her bed is a place she wants to be, then others will want to be there too. Or as Carrie put it, “if you build it, he will cum.” So, with that said, I head over to Bed, Bath & Beyond and decide that my even though my current sheets are white, fabulous and 800 thread-count, they are starting to look a little dingy and it’s time to invest in a new set. I’m plowing through the sheets…too green, too thick, too thin, too ugly, 250 thread-count…you must be joking…and I’m starting to realize that I’m just as picky with my sheets as I am with men!

It was just then that this amazingly hot, tall, sexy man appeared and was also eyeing the 600 thread-count white sateen cotton sheets that were on sale for $75 from $100…love. He must be gay. There’s no way that this perfect man could appear out of nowhere, be super hot AND have good taste. Read More »