✽ College 101: Leave it for Later ✽

Alright, it is time for me to start a new blog series called College 101! I know I haven't started college yet, but I have learned so many things on my own through reading other blogs, my own experiences in packing, registering for classes, etc. And I know I'm going to learn a boatload of other things along the way! I will surely help you guys out by writing about my experiences, whether good, bad, embarrassing or joyous.

One thing I definitely learned was: Do.Not.Overpack.

Let me elaborate on that -- you've seen some of my dorm hauls, dorm packing tips, etc. Seriously, take my advice! Now I'm moving down in one single minivan that will carry all of my dorm needs + 5 family members, so I definitely need to plan to pack things in a way that will fit in the car itself as well as still conserving space so all 5 of us can be happy and comfortable despite the gross and sticky August weather.

I've also seen a bunch of dorm hauls and dorm tours on Youtube, so I've taken mental notes on: what I'll need, what I should bring and what I definitely should not bring. Also from those videos, I figured out how I'll pack everything. There was one similarity between all of the dorm haul/dorm packing videos: they all used cardboard boxes or plastic shopping bags. Now I'm the kind of person who hates not finding second uses out of items, so I definitely crossed off cardboard packing boxes and plastic bags. Plus, I think it'd be super annoying having 5 billion little plastic shopping bag packages to move in when all of them could fit into one single Ikea bag. 

Now, another thing I took from the videos was what items I should leave for later. As in items I could easily get around campus...and that's what I'm going to talk to you about. 

I'm simply going to list the items I'm leaving until I get onto campus and why I'm choosing to do so. I hope you find it helpful and definitely consider it yourself!

• Pads/Tampons: I know what you're thinking, "Is this girl insane?!" No, not really. While I am going to buy a pretty big pack from Costco, I am not going to stock up for the rest of my menstruating career. You do not need 4 or 5 huge boxes from Costco. It'll take up a lot of room when you pack up and plus, where will you keep it all?! You also need to remember that there's bound to be a  convenience or grocery store near or even on campus. 
• Full-Length Mirror: Unless your campus is nowhere near a Target, there really is no need to bring down a huge mirror. I'm not going to buy one until I get down to campus because I'm just really afraid of it breaking when I move in since I will be living in a city campus and there are tons of streets to cross from the drop off sites to my dorm building. Target is about a 10 minute drive from my campus so I'm just going to wait it out for a day or two before getting my mirror. 
• Perishable Foods: It's common sense. Your yogurts and milks are not going to last that multiple-hour drive unless you lug a cooler along (which I'm sure your parents will not appreciate). Just wait until you get to the grocery store near campus!
• Textbooks: A lot of upperclassmen at my school recommend holding off buying textbooks until after your first day of classes because not all teachers require the same textbooks. Be sure to check out Amazon and Slugbooks for amazing deals! 
• Fans: Okay, so this might sound crazy, but let me explain. My roommate and I both have fans because East Coast summers are seriously like no other. What we're going to do is that she is going to bring only her fan down to campus at first, we'll see how comfortable the room is with only one fan. If we seriously need another fan, I can always go back home and get mine (I live 2 hours away from campus, it's not that bad of a drive).

Those are a couple of things that I've decided to hold off for later. I know it's only 5 things, but trust me, it's going to save me a significant amount of space in the car. 

If you have any suggestions or comments, please just post them right below!

I hope your dorm packing adventure is running fun and smoothly! 

xoxo

LightHouse Tofu & Bambū

Obviously, this is going to be my first food post! The area I live in is HIGHLY diverse and I absolutely love it. So everywhere you turn, there's a different culture's food and it's pretty amazing. The food options definitely do not get boring and you can get almost anything you're craving within a 20 minute drive. I thought that I had to share some of the foods that are served around my home and later on when I move onto my college campus (I'm about to go to one of the East Coast's most diverse and largest universities!).

***

Today, I went out to dinner with my siblings and my aunt since we haven't hung out with her in the longest time (she used to nanny us over the summers until my youngest sibling turned 9). She took us to one of her favorite Korean restaurants called LightHouse Tofu. 

I apologize since I didn't take many pictures of the actual restaurant, but I will describe it! 

It's located behind a Burger King in a smaller street (I know, sketch). But once you get in the facility, it is so cozy and VERY Korean. All of the furniture is wood and the tables have benches on one side and chairs on the other. We were able to pick whichever table we wanted since there weren't many parties in the restaurant at the time we went.

Service was so speedy and VERY polite (unlike many Korean restaurants around the area -- no offense to any Koreans!). They have a menu of all day specials for groups of multiples, so we got that. Our order included complimentary side dishes of kimchi and various pickled vegetables (the spicy cucumbers were everyone's favorites).

Our meal included two big bowls of soup (my sister and I shared a mild Mushroom & Tofu Soup; my brother and aunt shared a Spicy [Level 1] Beef, Seafood and Tofu Soup). The soups came with one egg each in which you cracked into the soup and the VERY high heat of the soup would cook the egg before your eyes. I loved our soup, but I wish that we got spicy instead of mild -- but my sister is not a big fan of spicy food.

The second part of the meal (not pictured) was a choice of meat, and we got Bulgogi (tender beef strips sauteed with various spices and garden springs). This bulgogi was delicious and way better than that served at Honey Pig BBQ.

Left: Seafood pancake and complimentary side dishes

Right: My sister and I's Mushroom & Tofu soup and a dumpling in the back

The third and fourth part of our meal were appetizers almost. One was the seafood pancake filled with scallops, octopus ad shrimp. You dipped this into a sauce (my mom thinks it's fish sauce) and eat it as is or with kimchi. It was good, but not my favorite part of the meal. The fourth were dumplings -- and these were just your standard fried dumplings filled with pork. 

Overall, I really liked this place because it gave a very homey feel with amazing food at prices that won't make your wallet cry. For four people, the total was $67, so that was not too shabby at all. 

***

The second place we went to was Bambū, a new Vietnamese dessert cafe that has gotten many amazing reviews. 

I'm half Vietnamese and I have to say, the desserts and drinks are amazing and  since they're made with all natural ingredients that are usually fruit based, there is no guilt. 

At first it was really hard to find the actual cafe, so I had to call my friend that worked there. We finally found it tucked away in a tiny corner in the shopping mall plaza. They posted their menu outside, which was super helpful since my family and I are super indecisive when we go out to eat that it gets embarrassing. After staring and drooling over the menu, a man walked out with his son, their arms full of Bambū cups. Our man saw us gawking at the menu and said, "Trust me, this place is amazing. We've been going here every single day since it first opened!" With that, we had a lot of reassurance and decided to give it a go. When you walked in, it immediately gave a very modern yet cozy feel. The cleanliness was astonishing (most Vietnamese places around the area aren't the most clean...) and it was such a nice and youthful vibe. The counter was huge and took up a pretty large part of the the storefront.

They posted their menus across one wall behind the counter in huge print (kudos to them for that!). I totally forgot to take a picture of the menu (please don't blame me, it's my first time doing a food post!), but there were over 50 drinks/desserts broken up into 6 or 7 categories.

What I loved most was that they do a fusion of a bunch of traditional Vietnamese desserts and made them into these amazing specials that are bursting with color and phenomenal Vietnamese flavors that are known and loved. There were traditional che's (the Vietnamese term for Vietnamese desserts) served alongside these fusions too.

Along with desserts, they had a lot of coffee based drinks (hot, cold and frozen) and fruit smoothies that range from strawberry to the Vietnamese favorites such as durian, taro and lychee. My friend who worked there, though, recommended the milk teas to me. What they did was brew tea into milk (I'm pretty sure it was soy since I haven't had any allergy attacks) and then mixed it with a flavoring of your choice.

All of the drinks also came with the choice of chewy extras such as boba pearls, fruit jellies, coffee jellies and tapioca balls. I definitely recommend adding these into your drinks, it makes such a difference.

In conclusion, I LOVE this place and I think it's a newfound gem for the area. Everything is super fresh (they make their own coconut milk every morning!) and service is spectacular! Our cashiers were very lively, helpful and gave us tons of suggestions after we told them it was our first time here. They were not impatient, unlike many Vietnamese food places, and super professional. I am definitely going to be visiting very often before I head off to college and every time I come home for break. 

One con, though? They need more seating! 

Left to Right: 

1. (in the back) My brother's strawberry smoothie with boba pearls

2. My coffee milk tea with boba pearls 

3. My sister's drink -- I forgot what it was called but it has various fruit jellies, lychee, basil seeds and coconut slices with ice on top.

4. My Aunt's Bambū special (Taro, colorful tapioca strips, coconut milk with ice on top)

Please comment! Whether it's reactions or if you've been to these places yourself (if you have, we live in the same area -- lucky you!)

I am going to try my BEST to post more restaurant reviews since I love eating and trying out new foods. 

xoxo

DIY Money Saving Space Saver Bags

The Beautigiate here again with another helpful college packing tip!

It's 25 days until I move in and I've been packing up everything that I can except for things I use on a daily basis (clothes, make up, hair appliances, etc).

Do-It-Yourself Space Saver Bags

I found this idea on the web one day when I was scrolling around and I was kind of contemplating whether or not I should try it since I don't know if it would work. However, I didn't want to spend $15 on Space Saver bags (they are very pricey and were faulty in a number of customer reviews). So I gave this DIY a try.

It turned out to work perfectly and I'm so glad that I did it.

It's going to save me SO much room when I pack everything into the car and it keeps all of my linen items very clean until I get down to school. I just knew that I had to share it with you guys! 

What You'll need: 

- Vacuum cleaner with the hose attachment

- DRAWSTRING garbage bags (I used the scented kind so my things could smell nice)

- Things you're going to vacuum seal

- Someone to help you

1. Remove any plastic packaging and pile everything up neatly. Remember to take extra time to fold down the sheets so that they're extra flat. 

2. Place your things into the bag. Do not over pack or else it can rip the bag before you even use it. 

3. Pull out the drawstrings until the opening is at its smallest width. This will also make it easier to tie later.

4. Stick the hose into the bag. This is where I needed help. Have one person be there to turn the vacuum cleaner on and off. Hold the bag opening closed around the hose and vacuum ALL of the air out.

5.When all of the air is sucked out, ask the person who is helping you to turn off the vacuum. Have them twist the bag around at least 3 times WITH the hose still in the bag. Then yank out the hose and tie tie tie. (As you can see this bag is still a little puffy, but it's because it was my first try!)

I had two Ikea bags worth of things that I compressed into these 3 little rectangular packages.

I was able to fit all three of these blocks into one Ikea bag and still had space for my egg crate topper (which was already kind of vacuum sealed in its package...I didn't want to open it). 

I really hope you guys try this out before buying Space Saver bags! It costed close to nothing and it's VERY helpful. I am very happy with the results I got (even though a little bit of air started to get into the bags somehow). If you have any questions or comments, please post them below! 

♡

Pack It Up!

Hey guys! I know that everyone is in the rush of packing up for college and getting ready to move out. To help YOU know what to pack or what not to pack, I've compiled a list and put it in a handy dandy PDF file for you. Feel free to download it and print it out! Hopefully it'll help you guys out and if you have any feedback whatsoever, feel free to tell me! 

xoxo - The Beautigiate 

What To Bring to College - The Beautigiate's Guide

Dorm Haul: Part 3 - Target Edition

Okay guys, one thing that is everyone should know about me is....

I love Target

It's my favorite store and it has everything that you could ever possibly need at very affordable prices. And if some of you haven't heard, Target has amazing dorm needs/furniture that are of great quality. The other day I went to Target because they were having a "Bonus Black Friday Sale", however it wasn't that amazing, things were only reduced by $1 or $2. But, I picked up a bunch of things that would be pretty pricey elsewhere!

Medibag Family First Aid Kit - $13.29

Safety First! A first aid kit is on EVERY college packing list that I've looked over. And if you're a huge klutz like me, definitely invest in one. I must admit, I did get this because of its appearance, but it does include everything you do need! And there's a free refill card included that you mail in after you run out of supplies.

(It comes with stickers)

Highlighters - $1.32

Paper & Binder Clips Set - $3.39

Stapler Set - $2.99

Tape Dispenser - $4.69

Not Shown - 2 notebooks for $1 each

College is all about education, so I do have to buy office/school supplies. I have a lot of extra school supplies from last year, so this is all I really needed to buy.

Small Storage Tub - $1.99

Medium Storage Tub - $2.99

I need storage tubs to hold my make up and other smaller things. And these were perfectly sized that I can keep them on my desk and they won't take up a lot of space.

Clip Lamp - $9.99

Is there anything else that has to be said about this? Your life needs light.

Belt/Scarf Hanger - $2.99

I was originally just going to store my belts and scarfs in a drawer - however, I found this. It's perfect and now nothing will be bunched up in a pile. Plus, it'll take up very little space in my closet.

Itso Storage Boxes - 

Small - $6.99 each

Large - $9.99 each

I needed some storage boxes to keep everything neat in my closet. And when I found these, I was in love. They matched the color scheme and floral theme I have. I plan on storing nail polish in one of the small ones; make up palettes in the other. The large one  will hold laundry detergent, extra toothpaste/toothbrushes, extra deodorant, etc. 

Brita Water Jug - $18

My roommates and I are splitting up who's bringing what kitchen appliance, and I've volunteered to bring this. Thank goodness it was on sale.

Desk Storage -

Drawer Organizer - $7.99

Cups - $1 each

I'm using the white tray to hold makeup/hair accessories, the silver cup to hold makeup brushes and the green/blue cup to hold pencils.

Bobby Pins - $1.94

Hair Brush - $5.99

Eyebrow Kit - $3

Just some beauty essentials. 

Pops Peel & Stick Wall Calendar - $15

I thought this would be a lot smarter than bringing a corkboard/whiteboard because it's foldable and it won't fall if Command strips fail. 

Decor Pillow - $19.99

My aunt bought this for me because it matches my bedding perfectly!

Alright guys, this will be my FINAL dorm haul as I've bought everything I need. 

So I'm very excited to move in already! I just hope everything will move quickly and smoothly when August 17th comes. 

xoxo

DIY Clothespins

Hey guys! This is going to be my first DIY Post! 

I made these for my photo "clothes" line I'm going to have in my dorm. I am so excited to use these and they came out A LOT better than I thought they would.

They're very easy to make and cost under $20 total.

Materials:

Mod Podge (you can use whichever finish you want)

Clothespins

Sponge brushes (disposable)

Scissors

Magazines

Step one: Select what you want to be put on your pin and cut it out. To be safe, always cut it a lot bigger than the actual clothes pins, so you could trim the sides.

Step 2: Apply Mod Podge directly to the clothespin and then put the slip of magazine on top of it. Press down lightly. 

Step 3: Let all of the clothespins dry for at least 15 minutes.

Step 4: Apply one coat of Mod Podge on top of the finished clothespins to seal it.

And now, you've made these simple DIY Clothespins!

Packing For College!

If you're an incoming freshman like me, you must be counting down the days until you leave your mom and dad's nest to move into your new home-away-from-home.

My university actually moves in a lot earlier compared to the other universities in the state. I am going to be moving in on August 17th at 10AM. While that seems like its such a long time, it actually isn't. I have a month and 6 days left to clean out my room, take down all decorations, put away things I'm leaving behind, etc.

Most people just leave their room whole when they leave and just make it super neat. However, my case is a little different. I share a room with my little sister. And if you've ever shared a room with an older sibling, you know how exciting it is when they move out because you FINALLY have your own space. I'm really trying to make it go as smoothly as possible for both my sister and I. She and I have been cleaning out our room and preparing old furniture for disposal for the past week. 

Enough about my personal story! I'm here to give you some tips and tricks I learned along the way to make moving as smoothly as possible! I'm still in the LONG process of packing up, so I haven't been able to take pictures of the process, but I will list everything out in a way that's pretty simple and gets right to the point. I even thought up of some tricks I'm going to use when packing the car (but that'll be a later post). Here we go!

Make a master checklist 

I recommend making it on a Word Document or Google Docs Document just so you don't lose a paper copy and so it's much easier to edit. Here's an example of mine and how I wrote (typed) it out: 

• Break everything up into categories. I have 11 categories: Bedding, Laundry, Cleaning Supplies, Technology, Storage, School Supplies, Health/Beauty, Bath/Shower, Kitchen, Life Essentials (debit card, ID cards, etc.)
• List what you NEED first. Then put down the things you want. 
• Do not cross anything off until it is packed up.
• Mark where it's going to be packed. Label all of your boxes with numbers/acronyms/etc. For instance, I have two big Hefty Bins, 4 Ikea Bags and a couple of smaller shopping bags; each one is labeled with a number. After packing something away, I will mark where it is to avoid any freak-outs later on. For example, my shower caddy is in Hefty Bin #1, on the list I will mark HB1 next to it. 
• Print out the list one day before you leave and review it. It'll come in handy when you unpack so you can pinpoint exactly where it is and if you brought it along. And if you keep it somewhere during school and use it to help pack up at the end of the year. 

Use space management

Sometimes it's better to pack things up based on their size rather than by category. Pack small things with other small things, and large with large. It'll prevent anything from breaking when you move.

When it comes to bedding: invest in a Space Bag. Fold up sheets neatly and place pillows on top. Then use the vacuum cleaner and suck out all the air. I recommend this just for bedding since it is really bulky and almost impossible to refold it to its once neat state when it was in the packaging. 

Wash everything that can be/should be washed before packing

Honestly, the smell of new items is gross. Once you buy your sheets, towels, duvet cover, etc - WASH IT AT HOME. And if you're like me, new cloth items really irritate skin when they aren't washed. This also saves you from having to clean things after moving in instead of hanging out with people.

This also applies to clothes. Do not pack clothes until the week before move in. Wash all of your clothes you're bringing along -- even if it's already been washed and has been sitting in your closet for a while. And when you fold the laundry, instead of going back into your closet, you can place it right into your luggage.

Use duffel bags to transport clothes

Unless you live hours upon hours from your school, there really is no need for a new 5-piece luggage set. Instead, opt for a duffel bag (or a couple) with wheels. I highly recommend duffel bags because they're collapsable, so you can store it right under your bed -- even if they aren't high off of the ground. 

Also, don't overstuff your duffel bag. Do not limit yourself to only one. Duffel bags are pretty affordable (here is one from Walmart that has outstanding reviews for its price -- I got it and I think it's pretty amazing) and there is no need for you to pack until the seams are ripping. 

Definitely categorize your duffel bags by what you're putting in it. Here is how I am packing my clothes: 

• One from Walmart: shirts, layering camis, tshirts, pants, shorts, dresses, skirts, belts. 
• Vera Bradley large duffel: undergarments, socks, pajama pants, pajama  shorts
• Nike 5 Brasilia Medium Duffel: shoes, heels, flip flops 

And for clothes you do not plan on wearing or don't want, be sure to donate them to Goodwill or Salvation Army! 

Make unpacking easier on yourself

Not everything needs to be kept in its original packaging. Unless it needs the inserts in its original box because it's made out of glass, just take off all of the packaging. 

This will reduce the amount of trash that's produced when you unpack AND save you some time.

Don't buy your textbooks until you've moved in

Do not buy your books until you've gone to your first class. Most of the time, a book that's stated as required might not be. Plus, save yourself the energy of hauling around heavy books before class even starts.

*** Be sure to check out SlugBooks to find the best prices for text books!

Try to avoid using cardboard boxes
I'm a huge earth lover and money saver, so reusable items are my best friends. Definitely try to avoid using moving boxes, especially since everything you need for college is durable and not fancy china. There is no need for cardboard boxes. Instead, opt for large Ikea bags (or the extra large bags) and Hefty bins.
You can use them throughout the year to store things in your dorm and to move out at the end of the year.

Know where you're keeping the stuff you're leaving behind and label them
In the picture at the beginning of the post, you see a bunch of boxes. Those aren't the things I'm bringing along, but rather the things I'm leaving behind. Since I share a room, I don't want to keep everything in the closet that will soon be my sister's. Instead, my parents are allowing me to fill up one of our unused hall closets. However, coats and old blankets have to stay in there, so I used all of the Amazon boxes that came in the mail to put things such as my old boxes, purses, wallets, etc. I then labeled them and piled it into the closet.


I hope these tips and tricks help! And as I come up with more, I will definitely post them.
xoxo

Dorm Haul: Part 2

I've been shopping for the last month or so (right after I graduated high school) and I've gotten most of my dorm items! I finally got to taking pictures of all of my purchases for this haul. Please bare with me as this post will be pretty long, BUT I promise you it'll be worthwhile. I got pretty much all of my items for AMAZING prices and I am more than happy to share where I bought the items and for how much. 

You've seen part one of my haul, now here's part two!

Bedding

In the picture to the top, there is an Ikea bag full of linens and things for my mattress. I chose not to take individual pictures of each item because they're all just essentials. In the bag I have an Egg Crate mattress pad, mattress cover and a sheet set that I bought in a value pack for around $45 from Dorm Co. I also bought another set of sheets from my local Target for $15, which I'll use because its quality is a lot better than the one that came in this value pack.
In the bottom picture is my comforter which I am VERY excited to start using. I bought this Plum and Bow Duvet cover from Urban Outfitters when it was on sale for only $39! Sadly, it is now sold out and I forgot the design's exact name.

As for the actual comforter, I bought mine from Amazon for $44 with free shipping because I have a Student Prime account (which I absolutely love). 

And I bought my pillows from a local Kmart for $7 each.

Closet

I bought these Heavy Duty Velvet Hangers because they were the most suggested item on multiple College Checklists. I bought this huge box on Amazon for $30. 

These adorable hooks are from Urban Outfitters for $14. I bought them to place on my closet door to hang my towels, coats, purses, etc. They have a felt covering so they won't damage or scratch the door. I plan on sharing these with my roommate if she needs them. 

I've had this shoe organizer for years now, and I'm bringing it along to college to keep in my closet to hold my shoes, scarves and wallets. I cannot recall where my parents bought this, but local Targets usually sell them for $7 each. 

Laundry

In this picture, there is a Woolite delicates bag ($7), Woolite Bra Bag ($9) and a Laundry Hamper ($12) all to do my laundry with. I chose to get delicates/bra bags because I've heard of so many stories of people getting their undergarments stolen or socks getting lost. Also, this will prevent me from dropping socks and underwear all over the laundry room floor.

Also, what I love the most about my laundry bag is that you can fold it down so it's tiny (like in the picture), but when you open it up, it's pretty huge. 

Bathroom

Every college student's essential. I got this even though I'm going to be in a suite and only sharing a shower with one other girl. I don't know if there'll be shelving in the actual shower stall. I bought mine on Amazon for $14. 

(Can you tell what my favorite color is yet?) 

I bought these towels on sale at my local Kmart. The large towels were only $2.99 and the small ones were (I believe) $1.99. And the loofah was regularly priced at $1.50. 

I got this bathrobe from a relative as a graduation present. I love it, it is very plush and soft! Also, many people on blogs, checklists, etc, have advised people to bring a robe just to avoid having to walk from the shower back to your room in a tiny towel.

Kitchen/Dining

This is the cutest dorm dishes set I have ever seen. Not only are they non-breakable, they're also made from plastic leftover take-out containers, so they're earth friendly. I bought my Preserve Dining Set for $16 when they were on sale -- however, they're back up to $24. 

This flatware set was from my local Kmart for $12. I love how it comes in a little holder and there are 4 sets -- one for each of the girls who live in my dorm. 

The little plastic rectangle leaning against the flatware set is my little portable set of chopsticks for my ramen. It came in a lunch kit that I got years ago but I never used. 

I got both of these both of these a while ago -- so I'm sorry I can't give you any information where to get them or etc. On the left is my Contigo Mug (which is amazing) and on my right is my trusty Camelbak. I also have another Camelbak that I'm bringing with me that has a filter. 

Others (that I can't categorize)

I know that you can get these Ikea bags from an actual Ikea for a couple of cents. However, the closest one to me is 30 minutes away. I bought these on Amazon for $8 for a set of 5. I am going to use these to pack things up instead of using cardboard moving boxes, since there'll be very limited space in our car. 

I found this Hair Appliance Holder on Amazon for $21. I decided to get one since my room is pretty small and there isn't much storage, so I didn't want to risk my hair appliances burning the furniture or anyone that walks by them. I chose this one since it can stand up on its own or hang off of a towel rack. And it holds more than just hair appliances, there are compartments for brushes, hair sprays, etc.

My dorm has very strict rules on what you can use to hang up items, so command strips are the best option and they're reusable (the plastic hooks). I bought hooks, the strips (for posters) and light clips (for Christmas lights). I bought all of these at my local AC Moore for $4 and $6 each. And I bought the strips for $8 on Amazon. 

Here's just an idea of what I'm going to be hanging up on my side of the dorm..... ;) 

This Birds on a Wire Picture Hanging Set was so adorable and I just had to get it. And for the teensy price of $10, it was truly unbeatable. I can't wait to hang up my pictures now. 

What the heck is this for, you might ask. Well, I got these for a DIY project that I plan on doing when I move in. I will definitely do a DIY post on this later on to show you guys the results. 

The twine was $3 and the clothespins were $3.99, both at AC Moore. 

I am absolutely addicted to Vera Bradley, so I had to get one of their Large Duffel Bags. It wasn't as big as I expected it to be, but it's perfect for visiting home during breaks. I am going to be using this to bring my undergarments, gym clothes and pajamas when I move in. I got mine on sale for $55. 

My friend actually bought this popcorn bin a while back for me. It's actually pretty huge (as you can see, it holds a lot of DVDs). I'm going to be using this to hold popcorn bags and DVDs. The DVD collection I'm bringing includes all of the Harry Potter movies, Legally Blonde, Lilo and Stitch, Stepbrothers and a bunch of other ones. 

You've got to have a surge protector if you're going off to college -- especially if your school doesn't allow extension cords. I bought mine off of Amazon for around $18. What I really like about this one is that each one of the heads rotate, so plugging things in will be a lot more convenient.

This is my favorite purchase so far. Lilly Pulitzer patterns are adorable, and I really wanted something in their print that I can use daily. When their 2014 agendas were coming out, I got really excited and bought one. I absolutely love my Large Agenda that I got for $28 -- I got really fast and free shipping along with it too!

Well, if you actually read the whole thing, I really appreciate it. And if you're going off to college this fall, too,  I hope you're having as much fun as me dorm shopping! 

Feel free to comment with your amazing dorm finds or any ideas of what you want your room to look like!

xoxo