❀ 7 Day College Countdown Series ❀

PSA: I am moving into my dorm on August 17th

(which is NINE days away!)

In the wake of this very monumental and important day of my life (oh gosh, I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it), I'm going to be starting this new series: The 7 Day College Countdown. 

Now, this series is pretty popular on YouTube. However, I feel as though it's lacking a lot of the information and experience that I wanted to see. Experience as in, I want to see people packing up instead of them just talking about packing in front of a camera.

That is why, I've decided to start my own, but through a blog and pictures instead!

The series will officially start on Saturday, August 10th!

If you're an incoming freshman like me, I KNOW you're very excited, but you also need some advice about several things as well.

I will try to the best of my knowledge to deliver tips & tricks about this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Though I am still thinking through what to say and take pictures of, I have created a schedule of this series. This can help if you only want to read the entry of certain days.

Day 7: Last Minute Checklists & Breaking Out That Agenda

Day 6: Packing What You Can Now & Designating a Spot for Your Haul Pile

Day 5: Packing Up Your Room ☹

Day 4: Pack Up Your Makeup

Day 3: Laundry Day & Space Saving Bags

Day 2: Transportation to the School

Day 1: Final Checkmarks & Packing the Car

Anyways, that's about all I can write about until the actual series can start! I hope all of you fellow incoming freshmen are just excited as me about starting this new chapter in your life! And I hope your parents are handling it well as well. 

✿ College Living Essentials Haul ✿

Well, now that I finished all of my dorm decorations/furnishings/etc., it was finally time to hit Berkley & Jensen's (Costco's sibling, pretty much) and CVS for the living essentials. Meaning, things I actually have to buy to be able to live on my own. This was a pretty pricey haul, but it's everything I need for my day to day life! It was definitely worth it and I feel so grown up for buying these things that my mom usually shops for.
 I don't have all the prices for the things I bought at BJ's, but I will try my best to guess!  

Also, I had a bunch of coupons for BJ's, so I did save a bit of money! 

** For those of you who don't know what BJ's and Costco are, they are both wholesale superstores. They sell almost anything you can think of in bulk for some VERY reasonable prices. However, you need a membership (or go with someone who has a membership) to be able to shop at both places (typically $200 a year). It's an amazing place for every family (especially bigger ones or ones with college kids). My parents have been members for years. 

First stop - 

BJ's

Bounce Fabric Softener - $9.99

Tide Pods - $27.99 ($6 off with coupon)

What's college without the scene of students trying to do their own laundry? Luckily, I know how to do my own so I won't be struggling so much. However, I wanted to save myself the trouble of lugging a huge jug of detergent, so I purchased these Pods instead. All of my friends who have gone to college love these and say they're the most convenient things ever.

Method Bathroom Cleaning Set - $11

Lysol Wipes (set of 4) - $14 ($10 with coupon)

I'm going to be living in a suite-style dorm, so I have to get bathroom cleaning supplies.

Nivea Lotion - $8.99 ($5 with a coupon)

U by Kotex Pads - $13.99 ($7 with coupon)

Olay Body Wash - $11.99

Secret Deodorant - $7.99 (Olay & Secret had a $6 off coupon if you bought one of each brand's product)

Lil Critters Gummy Vites - $11.99 ($6 with coupon)

I love the size of the lotion and body washes, they're not the huge bottles usually sold at wholesale superstores - they're perfect for a single person.

As for the deodorant and pads, they're every girl's necessities, no need to further explain.

And lastly, I love gummy vitamins. 

Q-tips - $6.99 (in a 3 pack - $3 with coupon)

Arm & Hammer AdvanceWhite Toothpaste - $7.99 ($4 with coupon)

Efferent Denture Cleanser - $6.99

More bathroom/grooming essentials. I can explain the Efferent! I recently got my braces off, so I need a denture cleaner to sanitize my retainer every night. And this pack will last me the entire school year and then some. 

Lipton Tea & Bigelow Green Tea - $7.99 each

Oreos (30 6-cookie packs) - $6.99

Frosted Flakes - $8.89

Mediterranean Medly - $9.99

Brookside Dark Chocolate Acai with Blueberry - $9.99

I.Love.Food.

Final Stop:

CVS

TRESemme Anti-Breakage Shampoo & Conditioner - 2 for $7

They were on sale and they're both in huge bottles. I couldn't resist.

Covergirl Lashblast Mascaras (Volume & Fusion) - $10.49 + $4.50 (buy 1, get one 50% off)

Revlon Just Bitten Stain Balm - $9.99

I really love makeup (especially drug store brands) and when I saw the mascaras were on sale, I had to get them. Covergirl Lashblast is my second favorite brand (my all-time favorite is Maybelline Great Lash) it works very well and each tube lasts me all 3 months. And I've been looking for this stain balm in a plain red color. I really love the stain balm - it's super pigmented and stains your lips without the dry brittle feeling since it does work as a balm as well. 

Regular Size Cotton Balls - ~$3

Exfoliating Nail Squares - ~$3

Just some cottony beauty essentials.

Simple brand ($2 off all Simple products sale):

Radiance Wipe - $4.79

Light Moisturizer - $11.29

Eye Makeup Remover - $6.49

Foaming Cleanser - $6.49

Exfoliating Wipes - $4.89

I absolutely love Simple skin products. They're specifically for people with sensitive skin and all hypoallergenic. All of the products I've tried are very light weight on my skin and does improve its overall health and appearance. Best of all, they're unscented except for a slight cucumber scent. Be sure to try it, even if you don't have sensitive skin!

Pronamel Mouthwash - $6.29

Sensodyne Toothpaste - $6.29

Toothbrush (2-pack with travel caps) - $4.19

Keep your smile nice and shiny! 

Like I mentioned before, I got my braces off very recently and have to start retainer wear. Along with wearing a retainer, I am whitening my teeth with this set my orthodontist gave to me for free (it's called Opalescence). What I didn't know that teeth whitening makes your teeth SUPER sensitive, so my mom suggested I get soft brushes and products made for sensitive teeth. I already had some at home, but I bought extra for college. 

CVS Receipt = my wallet is very sad. But I'm completely DONE with dorm shopping!

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