Dorm Essentials From a Mom Who's Been There
And other announcements before I take a little break
Maycember is in full swing, and soon, summer. For most of us, “summer break” is a total misnomer, but I hope you can use the change in routine to do a little less, or at the very least, play catch-up. That’s why I’ll be pausing payments on subscriptions for 2 months while I, too, lighten my load. I’ll probably check in here and there (you can’t get rid of me that easily), but this will be the last official newsletter until August. Might I suggest skimming the older posts that are probably collecting dust in your inbox?
BUT, I will still be offering my CURATED personal shopping service all summer. Need a seasonal wardrobe refresh? Clothes for a specific vacation? Milestone birthday gift for a friend? As one recent client emailed me after receiving her personal edit, “Oh my gosh - I LOVE these! Thank you so much! What a fun and easy process!!”
Just message me, and I’ll give you all the details.
It’s also prime graduation/teacher/hostess/summer birthday gifting season, and, hey, I’ve got an idea: how about a handmade shell trinket dish + gemstone bracelet set, gift wrapped furoshiki-style and ready to ship?! I’m working on my Etsy shop (one of my summer activities), but you can message me for details on this as well. Custom orders encouraged!
Grads & Sads
For those who are not only saying goodbye to another school year but to grade school as a whole, this time of year is WILD. A kind of bizarro childbirth all over again. Congrats are in order, but whoa. Pride, disbelief, exhilaration, and anxiety are all elbowing each other for dominance. There’s no right way to manage this emotional cocktail; you just have to down it like a shot, and let the hangover hang.
But once the initial pain passes, excitement will take over and so will the to-do lists. I say this all as someone who went through a version of this last year, and it does get easier. The punch list does, too, if you start early and work from a framework, especially when it comes to figuring out what stuff your kid will need. This list of essentials comes straight from my son’s dorm room – what he actually used and what he’s adding this year. Decor details will vary depending on the kid, but essentials like these are pretty universal. I’ll be updating the list as items re-stock throughout the summer, so continue to check back here.
These favorites from the list also make great grad gifts:
shower caddy & laundry bag set (other colors), bedside charging caddy (different finishes), multipurpose stowaway lap desk, and leather card case w/ AirTag keychain (lots of colors)
One piece of advice when it comes to dorm room shopping: DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOU ARRIVE AT YOUR KID’S SCHOOL TO “JUST SHOP FOR EVERYTHING” AT TARGET, WALMART, BB&B, ETC. If your kid is going to school in a major city with lots of retail options, you’re probably ok, but if you’re headed to a small town with only one home store within a 20 mile radius, you are making a mistake. Buy your bedding, towels, storage, and any other important items ahead of time. When we went to our son’s local Target for toiletries, snacks, detergent, and little last minute touches, the aisles where the twin XL sheets, closet organizers, and dorm-specific essentials once lived had been ransacked. Trust me: your move-in will go much more smoothly if you come prepared with everything washed and ready to install.
And if you want a more personalized, CURATED list for your kid’s room, please get in touch. I’d love to help!
Wishing you all a slightly slower, less frenzied, sunny summer. Talk soon.
xo, Jackie