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Sorry to resurrect this subject, but I received a catalog today from Bed, Bath and Beyond and I thought of those parents (and students) here who were wondering about mattress pads, covers, egg cartons, etc for twin extra longs.

BB&B has the "comfort foam mattress pads" (essentially a variation on the egg crate) and mattress pads for twin AND twin XL for around $10, and they have fiberbed toppers for twin and twin XL for around $50. They also have a ton of other dorm bedding.

They also have the pop-up hampers for around $9. I know that isn't bedding but I've heard those mentioned as well.

I really hope that this is helpful for someone. If not, I'm sorry for opening up this topic again (sorry Marite!).

Oh yeah, quick disclaimer. I don't work for BB&B and have no real incentive for posting this info other than to provide info for those who are looking......

By Rhonda63 (Rhonda63) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 08:54 am: Edit

I saw the $10 egg crate thing (although I think it was at Linens and Things...) and am planning to buy one.

A note on the hamper -- my D bought one of those after a few months at school, it seems to be the most useful kind (the mesh pop up or folding hamper).

By Katwkittens (Katwkittens) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 09:29 am: Edit

www.jcpenney.com for their wednesday sale has XL 250 thread count sheets for 6.99 (reg. 19.99) flat or fitted. The link is through the online outlet store and just click on wednesday sale. Is only good for today.

Kat

By Alphamom (Alphamom) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 03:18 pm: Edit

I looked at the Linens eggcrate and memory foam (it was 1 5/8" thick) and they seemed kind of flimsy. They crushed down to nothing when squeezed, so do they really make a difference? I found a thicker one (3 1/2") at ExpressBeds.com, but it was $50. The eggcrates I remember when they first came out seemed more substantial as well.

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 03:20 pm: Edit

The eggcrates were originally a medical thing and were much more substancial. I love the collapsable hampers and own quite a few of them. They bend to the size of a cd holder.

By Marianne (Marianne) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 05:47 pm: Edit

I am still pondering whether the IKEA 100% cotton fitted twin sheets at $2.99, which are 79' long, can be made to fit 80" long matresses.

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 06:23 pm: Edit

Possible if you don't have a mattress topper, mattress pad and a thick mattress.

By Boston08 (Boston08) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 11:16 pm: Edit

katwkittins

Thanks for the tip on the JCP outlet sheets. We took your lead and ordered them today!

By Marianne (Marianne) on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 08:07 pm: Edit

Jamimom,
good point.

By Katwkittens (Katwkittens) on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 09:16 pm: Edit

Boston08-

glad they worked our for you! I would have bought some if I didn't already have a ton of Nauticas from T.J. Maxx for 4.99 (280 thread count!!!) They were 6.99 but they marked them down, pillowcases were marked down to 5 as well, and there were 2 in a package.

Kat

By Lamom (Lamom) on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 09:57 pm: Edit

Costco has a very nice twin foam top w/cover for less than$100 (I forgot exact amt). But it is regular twin-75 in. Would it work if the missing 5 inches were under the pillow? The mattress pad would be covering. I could take 5 inches off son's $8 egg crate I bought for the bed at home. Any comments? Penney's had one for $149 or $179 and I am not certain it is as nice.

By Twinsmom (Twinsmom) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 11:57 am: Edit

I'm glad I happened upon this site - my twin sons are starting their freshman year in college next month. I am quite confused about the XL comforter issue - store clerks have indicated that the regular twin comforter is fine, but I think that may be due to the fact that they don't carry XL comforters. BBB and Linens and Things have everything else I need (I found nothing useful at all at Wal-Mart. Target and Penny's), but no comforters suitable for guys.

We also received literature from the college about rhl.com which supplies everything you need for XL twin beds, but I don't know anyone who has ordered from them, and am therefore unsure of the quality.

It sounds like this may be old hat for some of you, but this novice would certainly appreciate hearing from those of you with experience in these matters! Thanks!

By Thumper1 (Thumper1) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 12:02 pm: Edit

>>Costco has a very nice twin foam top w/cover for less than $100>>

To be honest, I would just get the regular egg crate ones for $10-15. You can buy lots of those for the $100 you would spend on that foam topper. Just buy the egg crate and plan to toss it at the end of the school year. That's what we are doing...more cost effective than spending $100. BUT if you decide to spend the 100, then put the five inches that aren't there at the feet. It won't be noticed there at all...

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 12:15 pm: Edit

Twinsmom, I surely am not an expert, and in fact, am a novice like you with a daughter starting her freshman year this fall as well. We have not gone shopping yet for college stuff but will be shortly. However, I have been researching linens online quite a bit (for ideas, as well as if we cannot find what she likes in our state). And honestly, I have rarely come across extra long comforters or duvets. Rather, I think the kids just need the extra long sheet sets. That way the fitted sheet fits the longer college mattress. However, a regular sized comforter, blanket, or duvet works absolutely fine. I think this is actually the norm. Others can correct me if I am wrong but I have visited a LOT of websites to view such products. I don't think the sales person led you astray.

Have fun shopping!
Susan

By Anxiousmom (Anxiousmom) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 12:55 pm: Edit

We recieved info from the "director of student linens" or some such baloney from Dd's school, and another school that she withdrew her app from. (Same company both time.) Notice they don't mention the cotton content or thread count of the sheets. I've heard that they are poor quality and pill badly. Better search through the bargain shelves and BB and B, or JCpennies or anyother decent store...

By Alongfortheride (Alongfortheride) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 05:20 pm: Edit

A student on another thread that actually wasn't a sheets thread suggested the jersey sheets because he claimed they fit the beds well and were soft. My son and daughter had the knit crib sheets, but no knits since then. Are the jersey sheets different from the old knit sheets? The ones I saw at BB&B were not cheap. Does anyone have any thoughts on these?

By Demingy (Demingy) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 05:33 pm: Edit

I have jersey sheets and I absolutely love them! I've never spent too much on mine (although the amount escapes me at the moment). It really depends on what you buy and where. I've received some of my best deals at LNT from their closeout/sales bins. Sometimes you can get some good deals if you are willing to look at some of the more "funky" colors (I haven't had to go this route, but some of them are pretty neat).

Edit: Good jersey sheets are truly like a high quality T-shirt in the feel.

By Clipper (Clipper) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 05:41 pm: Edit

Twinsmom - my daughter got her XL twin comforter from Target. They are just now getting in all their stuff. She actually ended up getting a charcoal gray comforter (more of a boys color) but she is pairing it with the magenta sheets and adding colorful pillows. I was thinking the same thing about a twin comforter fitting just fine so I was surprised to see that Target had XL ones.
Good luck - this is really fun (but expensive).

PS - good to see you on again Susan!

By Marianne (Marianne) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 07:07 pm: Edit

Our TJMax has a display of twin x-tra long jersey knit sheet sets for $14.99 (fitted sheet, plain sheet, pillowcases). The colors are really nice: several shades of light blue, pale yellow, ivory, pink, etc. I'm only hesitating getting a few sets because I think regular cotton sheets probably last longer and are a good investment.

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 07:11 pm: Edit

My boys do not like the feel of the jersey or flannel sheets. Nor do they like the satin sheets. (not that those where ever offered) They like the mid quality cotton blend that do not pill. I have heard that the ones in the college brochures do pill terribly.

My little kids have the jersey knit sheets right now, and they have not said a word.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 07:17 pm: Edit

Clipper, you are right, fun but expensive! My daughter's 18th birthday is right before she leaves for college and all the various linens and such are her birthday gift. However, she has gotten a bunch of graduation gift money to get other stuff too. We have not done any of it yet. In the few weeks since we got out of school, I went on vacation for one week with my husband, and soonafter we all went to the parent weekend at the other's one's theater camp, after which I went on to Phila. to spend some time with my mother, so I have not been here too much! And my daughter is working at least 50 hours a week, so much for the quality time I thought we'd have this summer, lol.

When at my mom's, she only wanted to pick out stuff for my daughter for college for her birthday and of course my daughter prefers picking out on her own (she was not on that leg of the trip). But she said that a good thing for her grandmother to get that was not really decorative was the fridge and microwave so we did buy that and I brought it back to Vermont with me, but that is all we have gotten so far for her room in college.

Meanwhile, I have had fun perusing websites and searches online for the bedding and saving things I thought MIGHT interest my daughter. We plan next weekend a day to go looking for lots of the stuff. We live an hour from shopping so it is not like something we do on the spur of the moment, but actually schedule it!

I have wanted to show my daughter what I have found online in case we don't see what she likes in terms of bedding in our region. Well, today we had LOTS of time cause she had surgery this morning to get her wisdom teeth out (ouch) but so far so good. She will not be working for a few days. So, I went "shopping" online with her to show her all the saved stuff. She chose two favorites in terms of duvet covers to keep in mind before we look in person. We do a lot of shopping via catalogue and online due to distances, rural nature, and the kids are normally too busy to shop. It was fun just showing her the stuff. She likes flannel sheets.

Actually your post made me smile cause one of the looks she is considering was in the boys section of Pottery Barn Teen, not unlike your daughter that way! Another one she is considering I found online that was pretty different and is from England but is actually hand done in India...batik. Well, it was fun for now even though we have yet to purchase a thing. But it is not often one gets all this new stuff at once but I figure it won't be again for a long long time (not counting clothing, etc).

One tricky thing is not seeing the room before you buy things. So, not knowing storage space and so forth. I figure we can bring certain things and if they do not fit, bring them home. I think we will get bed risers and storage underneath. Just all her sports related stuff alone takes up a lot of space.

Do your kids know their roomies yet? Mine doesn't. It would be fun if she did though.

Susan

By Lamom (Lamom) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 07:25 pm: Edit

Susan best wishes for your daughter and her wisdom teeth. Son had trouble eating anything, even the pudding for 2 days but other than that everything went well.

Son doesn't care what is in his room, actually makes it harder to shop for me. I bought him school clothes today at annual sale. Almost wish I could "rent" a girl to shop for sometimes.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 07:39 pm: Edit

Lamom, true it is more fun to shop for/with girls, though I don't have a son to compare. But I think moms of sons say what you do. I could never pick out my kids' clothes without them, they would not let me, though I have a sense of what they like. My youngest one is very picky. Just to balance your "frustration" of shopping for a boy, let me tell you my frustration in this regard with my youngest daughter....and it is typical of some teen girls (though not my older one)....in the dressing room, she LOVES the item...and I ask her over and over if she is sure of that. And then time and again, later on, some items she does not care for after wearing once.

When I was just visiting her at camp....and of course when there is no mom to supervise, her stuff is like you know what hit the fan. Looking over it all, I cringe. Just in a short time, I could tell a lot was missing....she loses a lot and also the roomies likely share clothing (I found others' clothes in her laundry bag). I could tell just what she wore and did not. Whatever she wore, was no longer in drawers or hanging up (this is after it even comes back from the laundry service there). And the clothes she apparently does not like so much despite loving them the day I shelled out the dough, were neatly folded the way I fold and she never would, and thus were just as I had unpacked them when I dropped her off.

So, with teen girls, there is that end of it. Still, girls' clothing is a little more fun. Also it inevitably costs more to clothe a daughter. For boys, it is shirts, pants, shorts. Too many variations with girls and also style changes! So, there is the flip side for ya!
Susan

PS...thanks for the wishes for my recovering one!

By Alongfortheride (Alongfortheride) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 07:59 pm: Edit

Soozievt, I think you have my daughter! I have had so many battles with her over the clothes and shoes she wanted right then, but didn't wear. I think it's finally starting to sink in that I'm at the end of my rope because I stopped buying her stuff and eventually she had to wear what she had.

Thanks everyone for the imput on the jersey sheets. I will take my son shopping and see what he thinks he wants. He is paying for his dorm room set up from graduation gift money, so I think he'll be on the look out for good deals. He's basically so tight he squeaks anyway.

By Clipper (Clipper) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 10:24 pm: Edit

Susan - just a note on the risers. I mentioned it before in one other post. I bought my oldest daughter risers from Bed/Bath etc and we had to take them back bc the place where you put the bed leg was too small. Her bed could be bunked, therefore it had a square wooden leg vs. a pointed one that would fit in the riser. We ended up getting cinderblocks and lifting her bed up that way. We were afraid at first but her roommate's sister had used them and her roommate brought them with her and they worked out great. We were afraid that the bed would tip over but they were very secure. The bed was lifted enough that her roommate stored the mini fridge UNDER her bed and also had storage bins under there too.
So this year we are lugging 4 cinderblocks up to DC! LOL My H said we could buy them there but D said Dad there are no Home Depots close by Georgetown! LOL True. But I am sure we will find one close by in Fairfax.
As far as the wisdom teeth go - she will be fine in a few days. In fact, it sounds like she can use the down time to get some of that shopping done - online anyway!!

OT----
Has your daughter signed up in the Facebook yet? My D has and she also has her roommate. Georgetown has a living preference questionnaire and once you fill that out you go on a board and you match yourself up with as many potential roommates you can find. Then you can hold conversations (anonymously of course) that will let you know if you will get along with this type of person. My D found one right away and they really clicked. She is from CA so that is really exciting. One reason my D didn't want to go to UVA was because most kids come from VA and she wanted to meet new and interesting people (not that people from VA aren't interesting!) but you know what I mean. Once you choose your roommate and they accept you get their email address and name then it is up to you to continue the conversation. She is very excited bc she has her roommate and her fall schedule - all she needs now is her dorm. She and her rmate are hoping for one specific dorm but will be happy with whatever they get. Gee, I guess I missed "seeing" you on this board Susan!!

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 11:18 pm: Edit

Clipper...on the bed risers...I have not gone shopping yet but have seen photos of them online and in circulars and I was wondering that VERY thing you brought up....like how do we even know if the beds have legs that would fit in that cylindrical socket thing? Not all beds would! The way there is just one variety that I have seen makes me wonder if most dorm beds work with it or what? You almost have to talk to a current student to know this stuff. That is an example of why it is hard to get all this stuff for college and never even see the space they have or anything!

On the wisdom teeth....so far, so good, and pretty much what doctor said. But there is a ways to go. Today NO PAIN whatsoever. But they said that was the likely scenario the first day. The numbness from the novacaine was to not totally wear off on her face til close to bedtime even though she had surgery early this morning. That is exactly what happened. It was gradual and even in early evening, her chin was still numb but not now. But no pain (yet). She had general anesthesia but that wore off pretty quick. She got to watch videos and look at the bedding sites and stuff like that that she rarely does cause of her active lifestyle. She even wanted to go to the bank to deposit her earnings, lol. They said that the pain might not be til two days later, same with swelling. She has medication as needed. She planned on not working til Tuesday so that part is set. She is going to put together a photo album of graduation tomorrow. It is nice seeing her not have homework and just having free time (though could do without the surgery part).

I am amazed at the roommate set up arrangements at your daughter's college! That sounds really neat....talking first, picking/choosing and so forth. Wow! Funny to read your story cause I have known a lovely teen girl online for several years who lives in Atlanta who is going to be entering Haverford. She IMed me recently all excited to tell me that her roommate was from Vermont! We did not know the girl, though we realize my girls were in All State Music Festival with her. Anyway, she told me that coincidentally her roomie assignment was with a girl she had been chatting with online that she met through a message board for recent admits (she got in ED). So, she sort of "knew" the girl already too, a little like your daughter, though did not get to choose. I do not know when my D will get her roomie assignment. I read someone comment on CC that for Brown, this could be mid-August which is rather late! We are going away then and then home again for about six days prior to leaving to take her to college. There was a questionnaire for this, but not that extensive. My D does not have a particular dorm in mind, not that it would matter. I hope it is a good match in terms of living together, even if not best buds. My daughter is very easygoing and gets along with everyone and all types so that makes it a bit easier. It just would be nice to know already so they can get to chat/mail and also decide on who will bring what, etc.

As far as courses....right after graduation, we had to sit down cause she had to select choices for something called CAP courses at Brown. These are a list of courses (for all grade levels), that if you get into one of them, then the professor of the course will be your freshman advisor, the thought being that the student would have frequent contact with this professor. She was able to put in for several choices and she got one of them. But even selecting that, involved quite a bit of discussion because she outlined basically some topics/areas/subjects she wants to take in her first year and so was trying to make this fit into that general scheme. There are no required distribution courses or core at Brown. However, by nature, my child does have a variety of areas she wants to explore as a freshman so in a natural way, it ends up sort of like distribution but by her own creation. I find it very exciting for her to get to choose her own educational path, so unlike school til now. So many choices! Now, she has to put in for her course selections for fall semester, knowing the one CAP course is set, though actually she got a spring one. And also they have freshman seminars that are very small you can pick from. She is going to tackle that a bit this weekend with the down time. But a student can change it all during orientation when meeting with advisors. Also there is a two week "shopping period" when you can observe classes and make changes. It is kinda cool to be in charge of your own learning plans! She likes many subjects and is trying to fit a lot into the first year.

Well, this is the fun part these kids have to do, after all the work and nerves of the past year with the admissions process. They deserve this now!

And as soon as my other one comes home this summer, I can be immersed again in another college process and planning visits and all that jazz. Never a dull moment. But it is at least a lull right now, lol.

Excited for your daughter, and mine too!

Susan

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 11:24 pm: Edit

Oh, and not exactly sure what you meant by signing up in the face book. There is no signing up at Brown. There is a face book she will get at orientation. She had to send in a photo back in June for it. That is my understanding.

Yesterday she got an extensive booklet about orientation with schedules of what is going on each day. It is so well thought out and planned. There is a combination of required things and also some fun things. The only thing that caught my eye that she has to check out said something about a mandatory meeting the night before move in day for varsity athletes and we are driving to Providence the night before but would not have gotten there by then, but I guess we could if hubby only works half day in addition to missing the next day. She has to find out if she is involved. It sounds like she would be but this was news to us. We thought it all started the next morning (and it does, except for this pretty much). One event on the week long schedule is a walking tour of Providence which sounds like a great idea to get the lay of it from upperclassmen. I think they have thought of everything, looking it over. It sounds rather fun!

By Clipper (Clipper) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 11:06 am: Edit

The FACEBOOK is online and only a few colleges are involved with it. All the Ivy league schools, some of the UCs, and a few other colleges - UVA, Georgetown and maybe JHU use it. My daughter showed it to me - you can send a picture of yourself and fill out some info on yourself like what music you like, courses you are taking this fall, major, hobbies, political views stuff like that. There is also a section called friends where people you meet or who know you add their names/pics to your site. She only showed it to me once bc her roommate added her picture and info so my D also added her stuff. Brown is on there so I was wondering if your daughter put her info too. I guess she must not have heard about it. It is different from the freshman yearbook that students get when they check in. This is all online.

I remember a few years ago my oldest D had her wisdoms out. She was groggy too after the surgery. The dentist gave her some of those wacko oxycotin (something like that) pills in case she needed them for pain. When I got home and saw what they were I wouldn't give them to her - I just gave her motrin. She was just fine with the motrin. She thought she looked really swollen but I thought she did very well. Like I said, use this time to relax!

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 12:12 pm: Edit

Oh, yes, there is THE FACEBOOK, online and the facebooks at many colleges that are generally for freshmen only, given at orientation that many colleges have. I collect those that I can get my hands on to do facecounts and get data on who is really getting in where.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 12:20 pm: Edit

Clipper, you are right, I have not heard of that. Maybe I can show my daughter your post. When you wrote Facebook, I assumed it was that freshman book specific to your own school that has everyone's photo. So, you taught me something new here!

So far, still so good in the wisdom teeth thing. Still no real pain. She said today it is a little sore but that is not hard to take. I know that we were told the pain could be worse two days afterwards so is still possible. Her cheeks look slightly swollen, not bad. Have ice packs for that. Really just taking Ibuprofen as suggested. But she was given pain killers as needed. She has not needed them yet, though the doctor said to take one last night at bedtime anyway so she took it once, though had no pain. Maybe she won't need them. She is just relaxing pretty much, something that is rare for this active kid. She is invited to a friend's 18th birthday sleepover tonight and we are playing it all by ear. She would only go if she still felt as fine as she does but we know it could change. Also she could just go and not sleep over. IF she has pain and has to use a painkiller, however, she could not drive and it is about 15 miles to her friend's house (real spread out here!). So, we shall see. She is going to look over course stuff for Brown today she said. This is the most unscheduled time we have ever had, lol. But then again, my other child is away and that is also making it easier.

My daughter has had many friends who had their wisdom teeth out and they had a tough time but I have had others tell me it was not bad for them. I hope my D is in the latter group and so far, it has not been bad at all for her!

Susan

By Clipper (Clipper) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 02:59 pm: Edit

http://www.thefacebook.com
Here is the email address to the facebook. You have to have your college email address first though in order to register.
You can look and see what colleges are involved. It is open to all students not just freshman.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 03:17 pm: Edit

Clipper, hi, thanks so much. Actually before I read your most recent post with the link, I looked it up on my own and it is a really neat idea. I told my daughter about it and perhaps she will register. She already has gotten herself her college email account. I was not that clear on the site if you can just access the facebook for your own school, not that it really matters. But it is a great idea to have a listing like that of kids in your school.

She just posted for the first time on a message board for entering freshman at Brown and a couple kids already wrote her an email back. I think she likely told a bit about herself. For instance, one girl wrote that she also was going to try out for the tap dance troupe, as my D will be doing. They had none of this back when I went to college! Thanks for the tip as I had not heard of the facebook til you mentioned it. I read an article today online from the Brown newspaper that talked about it a week after Brown became part of the facebook and in just a week, about 2500 Brown students had joined it.

Susan

By Clipper (Clipper) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 06:08 pm: Edit

Yes, once you are registered you can see a picture of my daughter! You can also see anyone from any one of the schools listed who have joined. Kind of a neat idea. A bunch of my d's friends who are going to the schools listed are already on there and it is neat to read about them.

By Sybbie719 (Sybbie719) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 06:29 pm: Edit

Soozie, welcome back, I was wondering where you were! My Daughter also signed up for the facebook and has been chatting with friends from her school and friends from her high school who are also attending schools in the face book. We also purchased the "other face book " from the school whic she will receive during orientation.

They willnot get room/roomate assignments until mid august because they don't have to be in school until mid september. She feels as she is missing something because her frinds have roomate and dorm assignments already. She has a birthday, next weekend and has given out her list of things that she needs for school instead of my family purchasing things that she does nto want or need. We will see how it goes.

We will check out target about the sheet. BTW, how many sets of sheet should we be sending, I have already purchased 3 sets, as she will not have me around to nag her about doing her laundry.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 10:51 pm: Edit

Hi Sybbie....I read on the CC Brown forum someone who said they would not get roommates assigned til mid August either, which seems rather late to me. They arrive on campus Sept. 1.

Happy birthday to your daughter! Mine turns 18 on August 27. She already has all this graduation money to get college stuff with, plus got the birthday stuff or money ahead of time from all grandparents. She is in good shape in that regard but we have not shopped yet.

If it were me, I would get only two sets of sheets. We don't have Target in our neck of the woods.

I told my daughter about the facebook so perhaps she will do it. It does seem like a great way to have some basic information on fellow students at your school. It is all so different than when we went. Today my daughter was reading course/professor critiques as she is deciding on course plans...all online. A totally different world than when we went!

I have to say it is way more fun or easy on the nerves to be talking of sheets and blankets rather than applications and so forth!
Susan

By Tabby (Tabby) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 01:04 am: Edit

S used a regular twin comforter on the XL twin bed at his boarding school last year and it fit fine. We spent a bit more than planned on Egyptian cotton (100%) from Bed, Bath, Beyond but they are so nice and soft, and wear very well. Two sets worked fine. These should last through college when he starts in fall 05.

By Kwtortoise (Kwtortoise) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 01:39 am: Edit

What are your thoughts on only having one set of sheets? I am the type to take them off, wash them, and put them back on again. Or, are two sets recommended to make things easier?

By Smhop (Smhop) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 02:59 am: Edit

I want to know if this is a 180 count bed thread or a 360 count bed thread or what?

Just kidding!! ~ sorry to be so irreverent, I couldn't resist! =)

By Dan202 (Dan202) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 06:49 am: Edit

Smhop--bought 2 sets for my daughter. When she was packing up to come home freshman year, she "discovered" the 2nd set still in their original packaging. She, too, took her sheets off, washed them, and put them back on. So it's definitely possible to get along with one set.

By Kwtortoise (Kwtortoise) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 10:40 am: Edit

Thanks Dan!

By Demingy (Demingy) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 10:44 am: Edit

Smhop, 360 count of course!

By Marite (Marite) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 10:53 am: Edit

smhop:

360 count, of course, but there's no guarantee that the bedsheets will be washed throughout the whole academic year, judging by some of the posts. Soft? check; durable? check; clean? hm....

By Smhop (Smhop) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 12:07 pm: Edit

=)

By Clipper (Clipper) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 05:25 pm: Edit

I am only sending my D with one set. I suggested that she take an extra just in case she spilled something on them but she said nah, she wasn't going to worry about it. At my house, the kids do their own laundry and when they do they throw the sheets in with their whites. No problem. Except, now that I think about it she chose MAGENTA sheets!! Ahhh, the pretty pink undies that will come out of that wash! LOL

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 05:38 pm: Edit

I just wanna say, we did it all today! Fun! Done!

Susan

By 1moremom (1moremom) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 05:52 pm: Edit

As long as it's only the undies. I sent my son off to his summer program with one set of sheets. Knowing how much I hate folding those fitted sheets, I can't imagine him bothering to try. So much easier to just put them back on the bed.

By Clipper (Clipper) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 08:09 pm: Edit

Susan - what did you end up with?

By Marianne (Marianne) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 09:06 pm: Edit

I would send a "backup" set. You never know if one set is going to be lost in the dorm laundry, ripped, etc.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 11:44 pm: Edit

Clipper, I cannot believe I am posting about SHOPPING! It was fun though. We only got to go today cause she had taken the day off from work ahead of time cause she thought she would be laid up from the oral surgery but she had no effects at all, if you can believe it, so we took advantage of the time to go (as it is not near where we live).

She seemed happy with it all and I told her, well, you are gonna have a lot of this for a long time cause I cannot think of when you would get to get this sort of thing again in one swoop til ya get married!! (that hopefully is not for quite some time)

We were mostly shopping just for stuff for the room itself. She had aleady gotten the laptop, printer, fridge, microwave, IPod/speakers as gifts. For her birthday which is in late summer, we told her she could get all the linen type stuff from us. The other stuff for her room after all the above could be with gift money she has received (and she is one to save, not spend!).

Before going we made a list culled from various lists I have gotten from resources but also an ongoing list of suggestions from parents on here (thanks everyone). We had already decided for her bed that she was going to go the route of a down duvet/comforter and a duvet cover, though we have never owned these before. At home, my kids have handmade quilts (a Vermont kind of thing!) that are sort of like comforters. I just felt that with the duvet, she would always have the down part and could change the look some day if she wanted to by changing the cover. Also the cover comes off to be washed and I figure it will get dirty with all they do in these dorm rooms where the bed is more than just a sleep place like at home.

So, BEFORE this excursion, I researched duvet covers extensively online and in catalogues so she could see what was available in case we did not find one she liked in Vermont (we do this often for other purchases and also due to distance and selection issues here). I am very glad I did this in this case. I think there is a ton out there in terms of comforters geared toward teens/dorms but less in terms of duvet covers. Though there are plenty, just not as many. I had narrowed it down to show her about 20 or so that I thought she might like online. She narrowed those to two. One was from Pottery Barn Teen and the other was this unique one I found by chance late in my search. It is on a site from the UK but the duvet cover is hand done by artisans in a village in India by batik. It struck me when I saw it as what she might love. As it turns out before the trip today, she said she liked that one the best but would look today and if not see one she liked as much, she wanted the one online from the UK. I had this feeling she would not find anything she liked as much in person today. That is because the two stores we had to go to for this in Vermont were Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and Linens and Things. Both those stores have a lot of their merchandise online and I had not seen duvet covers online from there that she might like. I was pretty much correct in that regard. She saw one jewel toned striped (hard to describe), kind of Indian bohemian but not washable, in BBB but said she did not like it as much as the batik one online. So, it was clear she was going to go with the one online from the UK. Since I hoped that was going to work out, she went ahead to get bedding to go with that one (I did order the duvet cover when I got home). The duvet she is going to get is this pretty shade of blue with white batik designs on it.

So, she got two sheet sets. One was this fabric I have not seen before for sheets but she loved the feel of it (very soft). This first set was at BBB. It says it is 100% natural fiber. I think the fiber is referred to as modal. She got a deep blue color but they had many solids. She wanted her second set to be flannel sheets (she has one set at home and really loves that in winter) and she got a white set at LNT. She got the down duvet. There are so many choices to decide! We went with a midweight/yearround and not the cheapest and not the most luxury end either. I figure this stuff has to last a long long time. She got the mattress cover stuff and thanks to suggestions here, the egg crate. She got all the towels at LNT. She got one of those pop up mesh laundry baskets that are like a huge cylindar with a strap. In fact, as much as I truly enjoyed treating her to stuff, it was hard to see all this great stuff when I could use it so badly myself but we put everything into our kids! I need bedding! But my old rubbermaid laundry hamper is so broken so I loved the laundry thing she got that I let myself buy one thing for me, one of those! She got a cotton blanket (knit type) made by Nautica. I wanted her blanket to be light weight and soft cause I figure when it is warm, the down comforter is too heavy and I did not want the blanket to also be heavy if she just uses that.

The other stuff she bought. But it took many hours to select. One thing that was difficult is that we have not seen the room and so we have no idea the space in terms of if storage units or shelving would even fit anywhere, nor what the closet is like...how big, if it has a door to hand things on, etc. Also she does not yet have a roommate assigned to discuss stuff with. She is waiting for that to get anything like the rug or any seating if they have room. She got two lamps (already owns a nice desk lamp to take). This was very cheap at BBB. There was a 15 dollar set of two lamps. One is a silver floor lamp (could put by the bed) and one is a desk type lamp but that could be put on a dresser and positioned various ways. For fun (and my daughter does not tend toward frivolous purchases though her sister does!) she got this string of little lantern lights. (I cannot tell you how many moms and daughters were there shopping for college buying the same stuff for dorms....we had THREE CARTS in just BBB!!!). She got the wooden drying rack for clothing she does not put in the dryer. Two things I wanted her to get but she would not.....and that is an iron and small ironing board ....she has a few clothes that need to be ironed, not many but these few do...and she says since so few need it, she will just borrow an iron. The second item I thought everyone suggested for good reason, she also says she does not want....a hand vac (though they had a Black and Decker dry/wet one for 20 dollars). Well, I cannot make her get it, lol. It was her money. I also thought she might like a terry robe that everyone suggested and that was just 20 dollars but she said she wanted to hold off on that. She relented and got a vanity mirror but not a full length one as we don't know if that will fit in the room and they can get that later. She got various things like the shower tote, plastic microwave safe dishes and some cups. I have silverware to give her already.

One of the trickiest parts was figuring out which kind of storage things to get without knowing the space. She got bed risers and actually BBB had taller ones than I had seen before...they are square shaped and rise the bed 8 inches! So she knew she would have 19 inches under her bed. She thought of all the stuff she will have to store. She ended up getting this large plastic tubs that have lids that snap on....one was so large that it spans the depth of the bed. She got a few things like that but did not want to take up the entire part under the bed cause she also knows she has many equipment bags to get into her room such as ski boot bag, athletic bags, tennis bags, etc.....and might have to go under the bed too. (Have no clue where three pairs of skis will go!). For shoes, there are many good options that are available but we have no clue the closet or if there is a door or the amount of space there. She got this wire low basket that can go under the bed or in a closet to throw all her shoes in but could be used for something else. She kept saying she did not need more storage cause she could not figure what else she needed to store but she is underestimating I think. Without seeing the room, it is hard to know just where the microwave or TV can be placed....perhaps the microwave can go on the fridge or a TV on a dresser, remains to be seen. She got a wire basket to hold food stuff. I figure anything can be returned if it does not fit in the room. I also think she might want something by her bed that can be a nighttable and a storage unit. She has some plastic drawer sets from home she MAY take and thought of getting a narrower set at BBB that had a hard top that something like a TV could also sit upon. But I think she saw so much plastic in the store that when she eyed an alternative she liked it better though it cost a little more but I told her so what, she likes it better and she has not come close to using her gift money and people gave her that so she could pick out this stuff for college and enjoy it. So, she went against the plastic drawer units and instead bought a wire unit on wheels that has canvas drawers. Perhaps it could go by a bed. Or perhaps it could hold a TV. She keeps wondering what will go in the drawers and I guarantee she will need the storage. Who knows how big the dresser or closet are? At home she has a six foot closet and we hang most clothing up and she is not going to have that! And she has all this specialty stuff for sports on top of a regular wardrobe. Just the ski clothing alone is stuff that has to be stored. I am sure she will fill it!

As you know, hanging things on walls might be tricky in college as you cannot mar them. Also I am not sure where they hang their wet towels if they cannot in the bathroom. But she found this great hook set at BBB where the hooks snap onto the wall kind of like a suction but it was pretty neat and so she got those. Also at Staples, they had this role of removable sticky tape that you can hang posters and such up with. Brown has a molded track on the walls with hooks from which you can hang picture wire and framed pictures and such and that will be good I think. That was mostly it. We were in Staples and she picks up a ruler and says she is going to buy it and I said, you need a new one? And she says, mom, I have been using this same plastic one with Mickey Mouse on it since I was very little and it does not cut it for college! She has a point. lol She also got a few items at Staples for her desk.

Right now, there are bags upon bags plopped in the living room as she went straight to a babysitting job. I need a house to put it all in, lol.

So, that was our adventure. She has most of what she needs now and the rest is dependent on talking to her roomie and is more decorative in nature. While she is holding off on the rug for that reason, I want to let you guys know that both BBB and LNT had plenty of inexpensive rugs suitable for dorm living. There was a ton of storage options there. Also neat chairs and little ottomans for seating that looked like a good idea for small rooms. Might be more fun to pick out with the roomie and also once ya see the room. At Brown, down the street is Urban Outfitters and they have fun things like that geared toward young adults. I figure during orientation they can do that fun end of it. The basic stuff we have now. I read online at Brown that they provide a dry erase message board on each dorm room door, which I have never heard of the college doing so I am glad I read that so we scratched that off our list.

So, this end of the college process clearly was not as stressful as the application process! Still, lots of choices to be made!

Oh, I forgot to mention, when visiting my mother in NJ last week, she gave me several discount coupons at both these linen stores and that helped a bit too. Still, an expensive day.

Susan

By Caseyatthebat (Caseyatthebat) on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 12:06 am: Edit

Wow! A world's record of a post in terms of length! But, I read it all to see what I could glean, thanks, Soozie, for sharing. My boy is playing baseball in TX this summer (doing great against that TX pitching, I am relieved to say) and will not give a hoot about any of this. In his absence, I went with the down comforter plus duvet, he is back in town for a few days but so far did not even care to visit our guest room where everything is stored to inspect and approve. I also called his college and they will make sure he has a brand new mattress assigned to him when we arrive as I told them he was an athlete with some back trouble. I bought all sorts of expensive mattress covers etc. and had the same thoughts as you, why I am I buying for him as I could use/appreciate all this for me, but it makes me happy to do for him.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 12:15 am: Edit

Casey, I read it back and did not realize how long it was! Sorry! But it was about shopping, ya know? ha ha.....also I type fast.

Boys don't give a care about this stuff like girls. My older daughter takes a very long time deciding each item very carefully. The other one tends to buy things more on a whim, says she loves it and often changes her mind later. Just think, I can do this all again next summer, weeeeeeeeeeeee! (I don't think I will be getting any new bedding for me for a LONNNNNG time!)

By Clipper (Clipper) on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 09:44 am: Edit

Susan - thanks for the rundown on your purchases. A couple of things I noticed - first - the bed risers - you said they have SQUARE holes??? I have only seen the round holed ones so I will check on that tomorrow once I hear from you.

The other I had to laugh. The FIRST thing my daughter wanted to buy was an iron. She also wanted an over the door ironing board but we weren't sure if she even had a door she could use it on (besides the main door) so we ended up getting a table top board. Knowing her she would prefer a full sized ironing board. She is the iron queen. Our ironing board stays up 24/7. She irons t-shirts, shorts, pants - anything she wears gets ironed. Her hair gets ironed everyday too. When she does it I can't watch - gives me the creeps. I see her putting a big iron mark in her hair one day. She has tried flat irons but she doesn't like them as well as the iron. So I can guarantee you that on her desk at school right next to her laptop will be the ironing board! I will also be sending her to college with a 4 month supply of Downy Wrinkle release!

Her purchases are in my other daughters bedroom. The JMU d is doing an internship there this summer so her room is "empty" so D2 puts her stuff in her room. I look in there and wonder how we will fit all of that in 2 cars. We have the fridge though they aren't allowed to have microwaves in their rooms. Too bad so we bought her a hot pot - she lives on ramen noodles and soup. Our next purchase is a TV. Her roommate is going to get the carpet once she arrives on campus. She is coming from CA so she can't bring a lot of the big stuff.

Let me know about those risers! Thanks.

By Alongfortheride (Alongfortheride) on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 09:57 am: Edit

Clipper, I've never tried Downy wrinkle release. Does it work? Bought son's last dress shirt in the wrinkle free fabric, and it's great. He does't have to have everything ironed, but I can imagine forgotten laundry in the dryer, or piled unfolded on the bed. Perhaps the wrinkle release is a good item for him to have.

Also, area rugs were not big when I was in school. I was wondering the pros and cons. BB&B has a wonderful bamboo area mat. My son is attending a school in the deep south, so warmth is not an issue. (At least not for more than a couple of months each winter.) I am hoping that a few of you knowledgeable folks can weigh in on the subject. Thanks!

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 10:43 am: Edit

Hey Clipper. Well, at our house, I do the laundry and ironing. And I drip dry most clothing, which she can't do in college, other than stuff you HAVE to do like sweaters. She still feels that only a few things need ironing and she will borrow one. So, different in that regard from your daughter. I agree not knowing if they have a closet door or what, limits whether to purchase things such as over the door ironing boards, over the door shoe bags or other hooks, or full length mirrors. Those things could wait til seeing the room. I was going to have her get the small collapsable ironing board, as I had in college. I even saw they had like an ironing "blanket" you could lay on any surface which seemed like a great idea.

As far as ironing hair, I recall doing that way back when. I am surprised anyone does that today with the multitude of straighteners on the market. My younger daughter is very into using straighteners. We have tried a few kinds and the one she likes the best (that is not one of these very high end ones) is by Hot Tools. I realize some do not work as well, so it is landing on the right one. She learned of Hot Tools from camp friendsd several years ago. If you saw her room at camp, where six girls share it, there are straighteners plugged in all over the room! I think Hot Tools works well. I would be nervous on the iron (plus can't help but smile at the image of your daughter with her head over the ironing board!). I would think there is a chance of burning the hair but I guess it has not happened. Also seems way harder to style it that way or get to the back! I am sure your daughter finds a way.

With the Bed Lifts....at first I was a little worried cause even the Brown website says that some beds have iron round legs but some have large wooden legs and that they will be selling bed risers on campus that fit either situation. So, in a way, we don't know which kind of bed she will have. But the bed lifts at Bed Bath and Beyond, LOOK as if they would accommodate either. I was wrong when I said they lift the bed 8 inches (which my daughter said in the store). Looking at the box, yes, the risers themselves are 8 inches tall but it says they add 7 inches to the height of the bed so they are exactly what I had seen online at their website (take a look though they look different in person...bigger). They come in black or white. She got black. The weight limitation is 300 pounds. The molded plastic feels heavy duty. It says that it will fit up to 3 inch casters or bed posts. The indentation on the top of the block is square shaped, though a round bed leg could also go in it. But as you know, you can't fit a square in a round peg hole (sorry could not resist). So, a square indentation would be more flexible for usage. These cost $11.99. I think the ones that just lift the bed 5 inches may cost $9.99. This size that she got really allows large sized tubs to go under the bed. As I said, you can find tubs there that go the entire depth of the bed that hold a lot.

While I said she dumped everything in the living room, it likely will all go in the guest room which is often a holding spot for right before camp where it looks like a store. I have to laugh cause when one of my brothers came to my daughter's recent graduation, he had never seen this house. I had to tell him that the guest room does not normally look the way he saw it because it was one day before I took my younger one away for six weeks and it was piled high with all her belongings to take for the summer (which is almost like going to college but less furniture related items). So, I guess this will be round two with her "stuff" getting lined up in there. Did put the fridge and microwave in the basement....it was a bit much.

Alongfortheride....I did not think of the rug so much for warmth. I think it just makes the dorm room more comfy cause friends come over, may sit on the floor and so forth. I think most kids have a rug that is at least between the two beds. I did when I went to college ages ago too. Of course in a southern climate, it may affect the sort of rug you get. They do make some inexpensive kinds for this purpose. Some stores are geared to college students in particular (in part of the store) and this is true at places like BBB and LnT, or even Urban Outfitters. They stock things for college dorm rooms. So, you can peruse a lot of this sort of thing and the options right online.

Susan

By Alongfortheride (Alongfortheride) on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 11:03 am: Edit

Thanks Susan, I appreciate the input!

By Aparent4 (Aparent4) on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 11:43 am: Edit

Just another thumbs-up for Downy Wrinkle Release. A big pricey, but completely eliminates the need for ironing. Nobody irons at my house, anyway; we spray clothes with water from a plant mister and put them in the dryer for a minute. Works like a charm, but kids knew they wouldn't be able to do that in college because the dryer would be too far away.

We look pretty decent, really. ;-)

By Smhop (Smhop) on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 12:35 pm: Edit

Some funny stuff guys:
ONE: I cannot imagine amy kid at college actually ironing, ever.. with the possible exception of a formal date.
TWO: If you cannot fit it in 2 cars, how do you fit it in half of a dorm room? Remember, you can buy stuff once you are threre, too.
THREE: if the bed risers have a weight limit of only 300 lbs, better hope DD does not get a football player boyfriend! Even two normal adults weigh more than 300 lbs collectivly... Have you considered a loft kit instead?

By Rhonda63 (Rhonda63) on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 01:33 pm: Edit

Reading all these lists of many things purchased, I just wanted to caution against taking too much. My D took very little to school, as did her roommate (just a coincidence they are both somewhat spartan compared to others), and their room always looked fairly clean and HUGE. People would come in and say "wow your room is big" when in reality it only looked big because neither girl had much stuff. And D said some of her friends at the end of the year said they didn't use much of what they took, and wouldn't bring it back next year.

My D must be unusual in that she could care less what her sheets and comforters look like. I don't think the sheets matched the pillowcases, etc., and she really didn't care one way or the other (seems like a very "Brown" thing, lol). There is no way she would tolerate the level of shopping some of you folks are describing!!

I thought it might be helpful to list a few things she didn't take last year that she will be taking this year (or took after Christmas break), things that even a fairly spartan young lady decided she can use --

1. microwave (food at Brown apparently stinks)
2. clip-on desk lamp (for reading in bed)
3. bed risers
4. under bed drawers (not boxes w/lids, but flat single drawers you can slide under the bed)
5. egg crate mattress topper (mattresses are too thin).

Again, I would resist the urge to buy too much (for example, I sent her a little vacuum sweeper which she didn't use, fortunately I can use it at home). The kids really don't NEED that much, so don't overdo it!! They really can get by, and I think it's good for them to do so, with less -- for example, both my D and her roommate used their printer boxes as a small nightstand. Worked fine, and that's one less thing to take.

By Clipper (Clipper) on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 08:33 pm: Edit

Thanks for all the suggestions! I will look for those risers tomorrow and see if I think a bed leg will fit in. Risers would be a lot smaller to pack than 4 cinderblocks!
SMhop - at Georgetown you can't loft your bed.

About the Downy Wrinkle Release - she uses it to spray on when she irons. The other daughter sprays it then puts the item in the dryer. So I have to have one bottle upstairs another downstairs.

We really aren't bringing that much stuff I was just thinking of fitting the containers in the car - we don't have a van. She is bringing the fridge and TV so those are big items. We can stack the containers.

By Mimk6 (Mimk6) on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 08:49 pm: Edit

The manager at Bed Bath and Beyond told me you can order online if you know what dates the school is receiving shipped items and schedule it accordingly. I cannot say enough about those mesh popup hampers. My son has had his for two years and totes it home with laundry. It looks as good as the first day he had it and is way lighter than a laundry basket. I just convinced myself to get one for me. Wisdom teeth -- my daughter gets hers out on Thursday -- a post high school rite of passage I suppose -- not a very fun one. I keep getting those catalogues to buy bedding from that company (I think they do tons of schools) but I wasn't especially pleased with the quality of the comforter my son got from them and I think a cover with more personality (i.e. pattern) might brighten a dorm room more.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 09:44 pm: Edit

I think Rhonda is right to be cautious with how much you take. I believe the stuff my D got was the basic list anyone would get and for instance, includes the things on Rhonda's list. I don't know quite what you mean about the "level" of shopping. We shopped one day and did it all, about four hours total for the room stuff. We shop very very little all year. My kids are simply too busy and shopping is far so not a spur of the moment thing. We do two big shop days per year, one for back to school clothes and once for spring/summer clothing. Unlike in suburbia where shopping is an "art" or activity (I know as I grew up where that is the case...."let's go to the Mall!"), it is a rare thing for us to do. I was telling my D the list of stores I saw at Providence Place Mall just a walk from the Brown campus and it was an unreal list...more than we have in our entire state. Can't imagine her shopping too often but the accessibility and selection is nothing like home. On the other hand, my other daughter when she visits her older sister at Brown, will surely want to check it out, lol.

Mimk6...I also treated myself to a big pop up hamper. As far as the wisdom teeth....my daughter's "recovery" has amazed us. She basically had NO ill effects, nothing like we were told it would be like for most! She had the surgery Friday morning and from then til now, has not had any pain and has not had to use pain killers at all. She also has been able to eat just fine. She may not use the back of her teeth where the wisdoms were pulled but she can eat otherwise and has no discomfort! She really did not have barely any swelling of her face either. She went to a sleepover party the next night after surgery and so many of her friends there had had this done this year and were incredulous that she felt so good and showed up. She took several days off from her job cause of what she anticipated. So, let your daughter know that it can vary from person to person! We prepared for the worst but it was not bad at all. Her mouth and chin were numb the first day til bedtime but that is not a bad thing, just the results of the novacaine. She had general anesthesia and I don't know if your D is having that or just what. That wore off quickly.

I guess it is a rite of passage but I don't think it was as commonly done when I was growing up, like it is now. The doctor said that they are called "wisdom teeth" cause they come at the age of wisdom, lol. My D's had not come in but they wanted them to be removed. Another big bill with college looming...who thought up THAT timing??

Susan

By Smhop (Smhop) on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 10:59 pm: Edit

Sooz: if its not too personal, where do you live that the PP Mall has more shopping than your whole state?


Photo for anyone curious; a very pretty mall: http://www.providenceri.com/Providence_Place_Mall.html

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 12:22 am: Edit

Answer: Vermont

Here is a little tidbit. Several years ago, it was a very BIG deal that a major department store came to Vermont (not counting Penneys or Sears or ones like that). It was Filenes. It came to downtown Burlington (which is not where I live). They had a big ceremony. In fact, both my girls were part of a tap dance ensemble assembled for this very event....44 tap dancing Filene bags..for their 44th store....I remember it well...Governor Dean spoke, it was a big deal.

Also it was a major big deal when WalMart finally came to Vermont several years ago.

Our state capital is the only one in the US without a McDonalds. Vermont is "different". We also have no billboards either.

Providence Place Mall has three department stores. Only one of those (Filenes) has a store in Vermont. PP has IMAX...none in VT. Vermont finally got some stores in Burlington in the past several years that that mall has....such as JCrew, Abercrombie, American Eagle, etc. But the one in Providence goes way beyond the Vermont stores. I noticed that they have a store my kids were in in NYC called H and M. Nothing like that here. And even what we DO have....is far from us. It is not like we just say we wanna go make a stop to get bras at Victoria's Secret, lol. It is an excursion! Better yet, we use catalogues. To think my kid will be able to WALK to stores, that will be very different. Shopping has gotten much better in Vermont in the most recent years, again however, not all over the state but mostly in one or two more populated areas only. When the girls were little, there were hardly any stores to get their clothes if not a Penneys. Gap Kids was like the only place back then and everyone had the same clothes. The last couple years , they brought some other kid clothing shops to Vermont (now that my kids are past that stage!), again just in one or two locations in the entire state.

I don't think it is that much of an exaggeration to say that the store selection at Providence Place Mall is greater than the selection in my entire state. Have you ever been to Vermont? You will see what I mean.

If you want gift shops and craft shops and antique shops, now we're talking. Come here.

Susan

By Smhop (Smhop) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 12:39 am: Edit

Yes, I grew up in RI so I have definately been to VT. The funny thing is, my trips to VT as a child always included a shopping excurision! (To the famed VT outlets, which if I recall correctly where in Burlington ?) And, of course, lots of lovely little out of the way handicraft shops, antique stores, etc.

But, Yes, VT is the "south of the north"-- as I see it: A slower pace of life and lots of clean open space =)

VT is a beautiful state-- you are lucky to call it home.

By Smhop (Smhop) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 12:40 am: Edit

ps: I think your daughter would be wise to take the bus to PPM, it coudl be a miserable walk in the cold and snow.

I will also be attending Brown this fall, as a RUE.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 12:47 am: Edit

You are going? Great! Tell me what a RUE is. Is that a program for adults? You are a mom, right? but you live in another state currently?
Maybe we will meet up!

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 01:03 am: Edit

Smhop, oops ...I posted above without seeing your first post and only read your last, sorry!
I see you are from RI. The outlets which you speak of in Vermont are likely these high end ones mostly in Manchester, Vermont. I forgot about those but I live in the northern part of the state, no place near there. I have been there though. Popular with tourists. Those are about 3 hours from Burlington. Manchester is a resort area. Burlington is a small city though the largest city in the state. It is where University of Vermont is located. I live in a very small resort rural community in the mountains though. Much smaller and different feel than Manchester. Nothing remotely like the shopping there. Our town has lovely gift shops mostly and great restaurants.

Yes, we feel lucky to live in such a beautiful state. It is a certain way of life but it is one we have chosen (neither of us grew up here but our kids now have). It is nice to live where you choose.

By Smhop (Smhop) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 01:23 am: Edit

RUE is the program for students over 25. I am 31, and yes, a mom with two small girls (my joy!) and a great hubbie who supports me in this endeavor (I left college with only an AA, got married young). My dad went to Brown, I practically grew up on campus what with all the time I spent up there in my life.

Hubbie and I have lived all over the US and also overseas, another reason I was unable to attend college earlier (lots of relocation and travel). We have owned a house in SC for 5 years now-- though we havent spent that much time living in it... lol! We are putting it on the market though... I am SOOO excited to be returning HOME to settle down. My oldest will be in Kindergarten next year, so we really cannot keep up the travel life...

We took and apt on the East Side for year one, so we can really watch the RI housing market (which is terrible compared to cheap/afforadable South Carolina). Its a very exciting time for us.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 01:37 am: Edit

Wow, I really admire you! What an exciting adventure your whole family is starting and you in particular! Impressive!!! I married young as well, still in undergraduate school but we waited nine years to have kids with all our schooling and so forth. I had been to Brown when younger cause my oldest brother went there and I visited him. It is funny to now have a kid who ended up being attracted to that same school. In fact, when she started the college selection process at the start of her junior year by perusing those thick college directories, Brown popped out as the one that interested her the most. It is funny how that turns out to be where she is going after the very long process. I have to remind her of how she said that at the earliest stage of the process. In senior year, Brown was one of a handful of favorites.

I hear ya on the walk in the snow and cold. Be aware, however, that while we don't walk much here, we are surely used to cold and snow. This daughter is a ski racer and is out there in 30 degrees below wind chills on top of a mountain peeled down to a lycra racing suit and is not fazed. She is diehard! The idea of walking to things is one thing, among many, that appealed to her about Brown .

Well, she has been busy the last few days trying to select her courses and it is an exciting time. Perhaps your paths may cross!!! That would be neat.

Don't forget to take a photo of your kindergartener boarding the bus for the first time for school. We did that with this daughter and the photo is still on the fridge! Alongside of it is a photo of the first day of 11th grade, getting into her car and driving for the first time to school (got her license on her 16th birthday the day before school started that year).

Susan

By Rhonda63 (Rhonda63) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 10:05 am: Edit

Soozie -- I had to laugh at your comment that your list was just basic stuff! I guess one person's "basic" is another person's "too much!" Happy shopping!

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 12:53 pm: Edit

Rhonda, it is true that what one thinks of as basic differs from person to person!

I guess I thought what my daughter got was on most of the lists I have read online as well as parent suggestions here, incorporating many of your helpful suggestions as well.

I guess I assumed most people got what she has gotten for college (lots of this were gifts):
computer/printer
fridge
microwave
bedding (comforter, blanket, mattress cover, egg crate, two sets of sheets)
set of towels
bed risers
lamps
shower tote
dryer rack
hooks
desk supplies
storage bins for underbed
one smallish shelf/bins storage unit

Is this that different than other first time students? Maybe it is not as basic as I thought. I had been reading of others talking of getting this stuff. She even omitted suggestions others made of the hand vac or iron or robe. I gleaned the ideas from parents on this board actually. Are there some things you think she got that are not needed? If so, it would be helpful to know. I think the underbed storage is going to be very useful because I know what she owns and am not sure it would all fit in the dresser at all. Each of her sports and performing arts things alone have their own bag of stuff at home. Just the equipment and clothing for ski racing, not even counting the three pair of skis and two sets of poles she has to have, takes up a lot of bulky space....boots, helmet, outerwear, race suits, race gloves, fleece, turtlenecks, long underwear, shin guards, pole guards, slalom chin guard and all the ski tuning equipment. This does not fit in a dresser and we are unsure of the closet space. It is only ONE of her sports/activities she will do in college. She got the underbed storage with the thought of if she does not need it, we can return it but to bring what we thought might come in handy for that stuff as well as sweaters and bulkier things. I know the room is more than clothing, study, sleep....as they will have some food and related items and what not and it all has to go some place and it is difficult without seeing the space ahead of time.

Anything you can advise as not needed or won't fit, let me know. Did your daughter have a fridge and microwave? I thought these were pretty common in college today. I am surprised to hear that my niece entering Penn State, gets a fridge supplied to every room!

Susan

By Emmom (Emmom) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 01:36 pm: Edit

Be careful about investing too much in twin bedding. Neither of my children had twin beds after freshman year. Those lovely comforters are now in my basement!

By Marianne (Marianne) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 02:32 pm: Edit

I think some freshman wait until they know who their roomate will be before doing some of the shopping. This way they can decide who is going to bring what. One brings the refrigerator, the other the microwave. It's also possible for two people in a room to share a printer. And so forth.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 02:46 pm: Edit

Marianne, I agree with you on things like the fridge, microwave, rug. My daughter was going to wait to talk to her roommate to get these things and she has as far as the rug goes. The ONLY reason she has the fridge and microwave is that my mom wanted to get her something for college for her birthday coming up and ONLY wanted to pick it out (she likes to shop) when I was down visiting her last week. We were getting our daughter bedding for her birthday so that was out for my mother's gift and my daughter understandably felt strongly that she wanted to pick stuff out herself (she was not on this trip to my mom's). So, the only thing my daughter thought her grandmother could choose that was not really decorative or as personal taste as much was the fridge or microwave even though her original intent was to wait to talk to her roomie. My mom did not want to wait. She wanted to go shopping with me for this gift NOW. You would have to know her. My daughter would have loved ski tuning equipment since dad no longer will be tuning her skis on his workbench but my mom is not into ski stuff but wanted to get dorm room stuff! So, we reasoned that since she did not have the roomie yet and they would need these things, she would get them, have them for future years, and when she got the freshman roomie just let her know she already had these two items and can divy up any others that come up like rugs/chairs or anything else that she is waiting on, like she was intending to do on the fridge/microwave. The printer was part of her graduation gift from her other grandparents with the laptop so that is why she has her own. It is not like we went out to buy this ourselves. My mom gave money for graduation and so she is holding onto that. I do agree with you on the idea above though, which was mine and my daughter's intent til this birthday gift thing from my mom came up last week and she wanted to purchase something, not give money again, and she wanted to pick it out where sh