1 – FOOTBALL SERVEWARE

Happy Saturday and GO TEAM! Is football on at your house? We are a little excited about a new season (to say the least!) so when I was checking out some things online and came across this cute set of football themed serveware I couldn’t order it fast enough!

SO cute right!? Perfect to host game day get togethers with family and friends. The football platters are my favorite (I’ll probably use them as plates too) and the rectangular trays say “football is on serve yourself.” I love that it all comes in a pretty sage green and white too! I couldn’t choose so ordered a little of each. :) The MVP Snack Box would be such a cute good luck gift for a teen who is into sports too! Fill it with his/her favorite snacks before a big game. 

I also ordered this fun game time banner for weekends we have friends over to watch a game. So fun! September we are ready for you. :) 

2 – BOO/PUMPKIN BOARD

Pumpkin Charcuterie Board

I love that this charcuterie pumpkin board is divided in sections.. makes it so easy to display different food!

Pumpkin Charcuterie Board

October we are ready for you too. :)

3 – FALL TRAY

I have been decorating non stop this week and things are feeling so cozy around here! Lots of candles and lots of cozy little moments like this one.

Pumpkin Candle Snuffer

Plus it’s always a good day when you can use a pumpkin candle snuffer. :) Adorable! I’m giving these with a candle for a few fall gifts too.

4 – SPOOKY END TABLE

My living room is feeling festive and I’ll share the rest of it soon! These faux stems are fall perfection and I get excited to pull them out every year.

Also happy I found a fun spot for my ghost candles! Adding candy to this bowl is on my to-do list. I like to add all sorts of fun things like that to my to-do list to keep me motivated. It’s right next to lunch with friends and organize for 15 minutes. :)

5 – RECENT TOPS

And my GO TEAM top. Green for the win!

6 – SUNSET

Signing off with this picture I took at the beach last weekend after a fun evening with friends! Straight off my phone.. isn’t that incredible!? A perfect way to wrap up summer.

Wishing you all a beautiful weekend! Watch the sunset and light a fall candle.

I’ll put some candy in that bowl. :)

Happy Sunday! I hope you’re having a good weekend! We had such a nice Saturday at home with football on and my fall candle burning. It was bliss! After such a busy month it felt great to have a free day at home to rest and catch up on a few things around the house. I’m feeling so excited for fall and my round ups today are so good! I wasn’t able to post a Sunday Edit last week because we were traveling and busy moving our girls so this post is FULL of favorites and fun things for fall. A lot of it is on sale for Labor Day weekend too so even better! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

No Show Socks Pumpkin Candle Ghost Wall Art Hobo Bag XL Moving Bags

{Capri Blue Candle, Icon Glasses, Plates, Pumpkin Cutting Board, Pumpkin Candle Holders, Ruffle Loaf Pan, Pumpkin Mug, Pumpkin Candy Jar} {Ghost Wall Art, Pillow Covers, Flameless Candles, Faux Plants, Faux Tree, Bat Scissors, Candy Bowl, Cauldron Candy Bowls, Light Up Ghost, Jute Rug}

Coffee Table Books

Fall Wall Art

{Cardigan, Bag, Earrings, Tall Boots, Square Neck Tank, High Rise Jeans, Mini Sweater Dress, Tote Bag} {Rattan Basket, Oval Landscape Art, Eucalyptus Wreath, Ceramic Pumpkin, Fall Leaf Branch, Chunky Blanket, Ceramic Vase, Mini Gold Pumpkins, Sketched Tree Art} {Sweater Tee, Sweater Vest, High Rise Crop Jeans, Low Rise Jeans, Polo Sweater Vest, Plaid Blouse, Dark Jeans, Work Tote, Structured Shoulder Bag} {Gazelle Platforms, Boots, Suede Hobo Bag, Ballet Flat, Mini Dress, Bootcut Jeans, Cotton Jacket, Striped Sweater, Brooklyn Bag, Belt, Bracelets}

{Pumpkin Coasters, Pumpkin Charger, Bracelets, Hobo Bag, Rattan Bat, Letters, Bobbi Brown Set} {Pillows, LED Mirror, Pocket Hug, XL Moving Bags, Wall Hooks, Bed Shelf, To-Do Planner, Dust Buster}{3 drawer chest, round coffee table, Woven bench, lounge chair, side table, wood nightstand, wood side table} {floppy hat, tortoise sunglasses, kendra scott ring, cane beach bag, pearl necklace, tote bag, straw clutch, straw hat, black belt, pearl cuff}{Hanging Plant, Faux Tree, Wreath, Plaid Rug, Welcome Mat, Fall Garland, Fall Flowers, Faux Pumpkins, Faux Ferns} {Farmhouse Vase, Artificial Stems, Faux Baby’s Breath, Pillow Covers, Vintage Wall Art, Faux Eucalyptus Tree, Vintage Wall Art, Throw Blanket, Decorative Bowl} {Swiftly Short Sleeve, Swiftly Tank, Green Swiftly Tee, Colorblock Tee, Blue Leggings, Half Zip, Green Shorts, Skirt, On Sneakers}

1 – KENNY’S 50TH

His favorites! Mine would be Blow Pop suckers and Cadbury eggs but to each his own. :)

We have been doing so many fun things to celebrate with different groups of friends and he told me last night after dinner it was the best birthday he has ever had. Mission accomplished! He does so much for everyone around him that it felt good to spoil him this year. I love him so much. Here’s to the next 50!

2 – COULDRON SERVING BOWLS/TACO RECIPE

Cauldron Serving Bowls / Spider Serving Bowl / Lat year’s Fall Kitchen Sources / Halloween Serveware & Favorites

I told Kole I would make him anything he wanted to eat this weekend and he wants tacos. Nice! That I can do. :) I’m pulling out my Cauldron to officially kick off fall and can’t wait to eat tacos and watch football! I shared this last year.. a fun way to entertain or just make every day dinner more special.

Cauldron Serving Bowls

I’ve also used these fun bowls to hold candy and popcorn for movie nights in September/October.

Spider Serving Bowl

Love this bowl too! Below is how I make our meat for tacos or taco salad.. it’s so easy and Kole’s favorite.

Brown 2 lbs ground beef (I used 3 tonight so we would have leftovers.. you can do as much or little as you want with this mix!). Drain it and then add: 

1/3 – 2/3 cups of water (I eyeball this and just put enough in that the meat is moist but not too soupy)
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp pepper
1 can red kidney beans

3 – FALL PILLOWS

Belgian Linen Pillow, Leaf Pillow

I have so many fun fall pillows to share! But couldn’t wait one more day to share this leaf pillow because it’s TOO CUTE. The courduroy! I’m in love.

This is another fun pillow I just got for fall.. both are on sale this weekend!

4 – GAME DAY

Kenny and I watched our first college football game tonight with this candle burning (also on sale!) and it felt like heaven! Nothing like the start of fall.. I love this time of year. I’ll have both of these tees on repeat for the next few months. So perfect for game days! I linked some other cute game day options too.. kind of obsessed with this line!

5 – CLARIFYING DETOX MASK

6 – WEEKEND SALES

{Pumpkin Lights, Candle Warmer, Pots & Pans Set, Pumpkin Cutting Board, Washing Machine Cleaner, Bat Scissors, Green Machine, KitchenAid}

Labor Day Deals 

{Colorblock Tank, Colorblock Leggings, Sneakers, Boyfriend Jeans, Mesh Ballet Flats, Crochet Sweater, Tote Bag, Leather Handbag}

{Light Up Ghosts, Faux Pumpkins, Glass Pumpkin Coche, Haunted House Lantern, Jack O’ Lantern, Bat Pillow, Stacked Pumpkins, Doormat, Pumpkin Towels}

{Studded Bag, Knit Top, Bootcut Jeans, Studded Mule, Oval Buckle Belt, Suede Jacket, Denim Dress, Light Brown Suede Jacket, Woven Ballet Flat, Boho Bag}

Hello hello! I hope you’re having a good week so far! We spent last week moving both girls into new college apartments and Kenny and I are in full recovery mode over here. We might be recovering for a while.. ha! We kicked off the week with Kenny driving Ad’s car to Texas while Ad and I finished up last minute to-do’s. We both have a tendency to get car sick on road trips so we were grateful he took one for the team and drove her car for us. It was so nice being able to load the car with all of her things vs. flying with it all like we did last year!

A few days later we flew into Austin and he picked us up at the airport. Blurry plane pic of us just happy we were finally on the plane! Our flight was almost 3 hours delayed. By the time we met Kenny, picked up the rental car, got some food and drove to Waco it was late so our 2 day move in plan turned into a one day move in plan. We got a good nights sleep and hit it HARD the next day. Below are some pics of her new apartment!

Come on in! When you enter her bedroom door you are immediately greeted by Peppa.. ha. (a sorority thing!)

Door Hook

I hung this door hook on the other side of the door. We had it at the end of her dorm bed last year! Such a good option for storing purses and bags.

Rattan Wall Hanger, Pin Board (similar) 

On the wall when you walk in we hung this cute rattan wall hanger for hats and keys and a pin board full of pictures of family and friends.

Rattan Wall Hanger

I have this in her bedroom at home too! Such a cute wall hanger. We used command hooks to hang everything!

Tool Kit

This cute pink tool kit came in handy in so many ways too. I bought each of my girls one when they graduated high school. The pliers were in use when I took this pic. :)

Ad and I got to work unpacking and organizing her closet while Kenny moved items from a storage shed she was sharing with roommates. He hauled everything over to the apartment for Ad’s friends too and by the time he finished he was ready for a nap. We were like um.. nice try! We’re just getting started! We were all laughing at his nap attempt when I snapped this pic. Not in the cards today babe. :)

Beach Prints (similar), Wood Frames, Scallop Quilt & Sham, Palm Tree Pillow, Shell Pillow, White Comforter Set

At the end of the day this is how things turned out! Ad wanted a beach vibe to bring a feeling of home to Texas. :) The prints are actually the same prints in El’s room. They are an Etsy download that I had printed and then I put the prints inside affordable wooden frames. We used velcro picture hanging strips to hang them!

Beach Prints (similar), Wood Frames, Scallop Quilt & Sham, Palm Tree Pillow, Shell Pillow, White Comforter Set

The bedding is my favorite and I’m tempted to duplicate it on her bed at home too! A simple white comforter set from Amazon and then this cute scallop quilt & sham in the color Cloud Blue. It’s such a pretty blue/green! The lighting in her apartment is horrible so it’s hard to see the real color in these pics. It’s so beautiful in person.  

Tissue Holder, Faux Plant

We kept the nightstand by her bed empty (other than this cute shell tissue holder!) because she will use it for books and her phone and water, etc. One tip with dorm/apartment living.. space is tight so less really is more! It’s hard to keep small spaces organized with too much stuff.

Beach Prints (similar), Wood Frames, Scallop Quilt & Sham, Palm Tree Pillow, Shell Pillow, White Comforter Set

Ad picked out this cute shell pillow and then I found the palm tree pillow to go with it.

Jewelry Box, Dry Erase Board, Rattan Lamp (similar), Faux Plant, Shell 

The furniture all came with the room and I really want to switch out that chair.. ha! But she’s only here one year so I’m trying to move on. ;)

Jewelry Box, Dry Erase Board, Rattan Lamp (similar), Faux Plant, Shell 

Desk details!

Beach Prints (similar), Wood Frames, Scallop Quilt & Sham, Palm Tree Pillow, Shell Pillow, White Comforter Set

Flower Ottoman (similar), Scallop Jute Rug, White Comforter Set, Scallop Quilt & Sham

The apartment Ad is in has 4 bedrooms and two of the rooms are larger. Ad ended up with one of the smaller rooms after a random draw and if I would have known I would have ordered a smaller rug! This was 8×10 and too big for the space (it took up the whole room!) but we made it work.

Flower Ottoman (similar), Scallop Jute Rug 

It went right to the edges of her room but she likes being able to see so much of it! It’s such a cute rug. I loved the scallop detail on her quilt so much that I brought other scallop details in. :)

Scalloped Baskets, Shoe Rack, White Drawer Organizers

These cute scalloped baskets worked so well at the top of her closet. I was thrilled they fit because I wasn’t sure on closet measurements when I ordered them!

Shoe Rack, White Drawer Organizers

We added a rack for shoes and the white drawer organizers she used last year.

Hanging Storage Organizer

I hung this hanging storage organizer on the other side of her closet and let Ad organize her clothes inside because I want this to work for her! She isn’t a neat freak like me and anything I fold will be unfolded and messy in no time so I didn’t waste time on that. I just wanted things to be functional for her! I was bummed I forgot to bring my label maker this trip (rookie mistake!). When we go back in a few weeks for parent’s weekend I’ll take it and label all of her baskets and bins and clothes drawers/slots so that it’s easy for her to find what she needs.

Scalloped Baskets, Shoe Rack, White Drawer Organizers, Scallop Jute Rug

An organized closet just makes me happy. :) So nice she has large mirrors on the doors too!

Hanging Shelves, Starfish and Shells

Ad loved this set of hanging shelves and two looked so cute on her wall! But this spot was too narrow to fit both of them. We kept bumping into the lower shelf when we walked around the corner.. ha! So we just added one and put some cute shells on it.

Crop Tank, Leggings

I saved the bathroom for last and we were so tired by the end of the night when we finally got to this space!

Beach Wall Decor

We added these cute beach prints over the toilet and then I started organizing the cupboard above.

Crop Tank, Leggings, Sneakers

We needed some organizers so late night Walmart run! Ad snapped this pic and was laughing at me for bringing my tape measure into the store but I found the best option for what we needed!

Woven Storage Baskets

Much better. Labels coming soon. :)

Steamer, Scalloped Shower Curtain

I bought my favorite steamer for both of my girls to take to college and we used it for the shower curtain and bedding. It’s lightweight, easy to use and gets the job done!

Scalloped Shower Curtain

HORRIBLE lighting and we took a lot of these pics at night but the shower curtain is so cute in person!

Daisy Bath Mat, Woven Trash Can, Woven Glass Soap Dispenser, Woven Makeup Organizer

So are these fun bath rugs!

Daisy Bath Mat, Woven Trash Can, Woven Glass Soap Dispenser, Woven Makeup Organizer

Scallop Jute Rug, Daisy Bath Mat

This is a better pic of them. So cute and soft! I want to order them for my girls’ bathroom at home too.

Oversized Towel, Woven Makeup Organizer

We picked up some towels and a makeup organizer and trash can from Target.

Woven Makeup Organizer

Oversized Towel, Scalloped Towel, Beach Prints (similar), Wood Frames

I added one more beach print and some cute scallop hand towels next to the shower and then the bathroom was done! We were so happy we knocked it out in one day!

Beach Prints (similar), Wood Frames, Scallop Quilt & Sham, Palm Tree Pillow, Shell Pillow, White Comforter Set

It’s simple but exactly what Ad wanted (she keeps texting me how much she loves it!) and perfect for Sophomore year of college.

Hard saying good-bye.. we had the best summer with her home with us again! But we talk every day and I know she’s exactly where she needs to be.

Kenny and I came home from Texas and started moving El into her new apartment. I’ll share some pics from it at some point too! So much easier having her closer to home so we didn’t have to do it all in one day. We are so happy to have both of the girls settled and ready for a new year! I’m excited for some time to focus on my boys now. Poor Kole has been fending for himself a lot lately. He might turn into a pack of Ramen Noodles at this point.. ha! He is missing his sisters too (the house feels quiet when they are gone!) so I’m going to be spending extra time with him. Transitions! They aren’t easy. But we are getting better at them. One day at a time. :)

1 – FALL CONSOLE TABLE

Wall Art

This art is beautiful and made me so excited to decorate! It’s rich and warm and moody and such a fun change from my light and bright summer decor.

Metal Tray, 4 Wick Candle, Candle Snuffer

Time to pull out all the candles! To set on top of all the beautiful trays.

These stems are also stunning for fall. It’s so fun to mix things up at the beginning of a new season isn’t it!? It just breathes new life into your home.

2 – PUMPKIN CANDLES/CROCK

Antique Metal Tray, Wooden Tray, Fall Eucalyptus Plant, Scalloped Bowls, Similar Framed Art, Utensil Crock

My kitchen is fall ready too and I will share more soon but for now this spot is making me happy.

{Charcoal Terracotta Jug, Small Pumpkin Candle, Large Pumpkin Candle, Acacia Cutting Board}

I have a thing for pumpkin candles. These wooden pumpkin candles I bought last year are back in stock! They smell amazing.

Mini Pumpkin Flameless Candle / Pumpkin Candle with Remote

I love these battery operated pumpkin candles too! The larger size has a timer so you can set it to come on for 5 or 6 hours a night and the smaller size comes with a remote. So fun having them on in the evening!

Utensil Crock

Loving this black utensil crock that rotates too! (It also comes in white and other colors.)

3 – GIRLS COLLEGE ROOMS

We have lots of piles going on around the house packing for the girls! This is all heading to Texas for Ad’s room and I will share some of the cute things we are using soon.

Shell Pillow

We’re going with beachy themes because my girls live at the beach when they are home and we all fell hard for this cute shell pillow! They both want it on their beds next year. A little piece of home away from home. :)

Floor Lamp

I’m going to try this cute floor lamp in Ad’s room but if it doesn’t work I’m bringing it home for me!

Socks

Also sidenote.. not decor, but we love these no show socks! I ordered more for my girls and was packing them so I thought I’d share. :)

4 – BEST BEACH BAGS

Bogg Bag, Sunflow Chair

End of summer and I have to report back on the Bogg bag! I didn’t know if I would love it or not but I have to say that I really do. I don’t think it’s the cutest beach bag if I’m being honest (ha) BUT it’s a perfect size to hold everything and so convenient.

Bogg Bag

I loved having a spot for my water and phone on the front of it and the clear zipper pouches inside were perfect for my keys, chapstick, etc. Plus it’s so easy to rinse off and dry out after the beach! It was a win this summer!

Beach Bag

I have shared this cute beach bag several times and it’s still a favorite too. I finally bought 3 because my girls were using mine so much so now we all have our own! Definitely our most used bag this summer for quick beach trips.

5 – CLOSET CLEAN OUT

I have a lot of organizing I want to tackle after we get our girls moved in and settled but I couldn’t wait one more day on this little closet in our mudroom! I have shared it before but wow.. it was the messiest it has EVER been.

I didn’t get a pic of the messy closet but remembered to snap some pics after I pulled everything out..

Just a little clutter! Ha! Told you it was bad.

I got rid of a lot of things we didn’t need and finally put the outside pool pillows away (we have been using them in the yard all summer so they were in and out of this closet a lot).

It felt so good to finally get this space clean! I have shared this tip before but the smartest thing I ever did in most of our closets was to add hooks. So nice to use the walls to hang our bags and save closet space.

Most of our luggage is packed in the girls’ rooms at the moment so it was a good time to clean this space out. Feels amazing to be able to walk in here again and now I’m excited to tackle more spaces this fall. It’s time! I feel like every room in our house could use some de-cluttering.

6 – PIC OF THE WEEK

On that note.. more organizing and fall decor are coming! I’m mid decorating so things aren’t totally put together around here, but this is still my favorite picture of the week – Kenny totally mesmerized by Tangled. This man loves a good Disney movie and it always makes us laugh! The kids and I know that if we have one on when he comes home from work he will sit and have to watch the whole thing. Even if it’s one we’ve all seen a thousand times. He only tears up in Armageddon and Disney movies. Also our kids have decided that if they could pick two Disney characters Kenny and I are the most like it’s Rapunzel and Flynn Rider. Ellie thinks that Addison is my little BFF/loyal companion Pascal and Kole is a dead ringer for the horse Maximus. But we all got stuck on who Ellie would be in this scenario so she announced that she’s the guy who “had a dream” and we all had a good laugh over that one. It’s nice that we keep ourselves entertained over here. Ha.

It’s probably time to mix some football into our TV rotation. Fall we are ready for you!

:)

Happy Sunday! FUN round up today! First up are your favorites from last week and then we are diving straight into fall with beautiful decor (the rich, warm colors are making me so excited!). I’m also sharing a few things I’m loving right now along with some cute things for college dorms/apartments. It has been a productive weekend at our house. A lot going on but I managed to clean out the mudroom luggage closet under our stairs that has been driving me crazy this summer! It was such a mess and it felt good to de-clutter and finally get it clean again. Nothing like a good organizing project over the weekend. It just makes you feel a little more accomplished! Hoping to tackle my fridge next! Maybe I should wait for kids to start school.. I’ll have a better chance of keeping it organized that way.. ;)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

{Ghost Garland, To-Do Planner, Dust Buster, Tower Power Strip, Tower Fan, Bathroom Counter Organizer, Pocket Hug, XL Moving Bags }

Rattan Bat Ghost Garland

{Stool, Rattan Lamp, Plum Wreath, Chunky Blanket, Marble Bowls, Wall Art, Landscape Wall Art, Faux Plant, Faux Bunny Tails}

{Belt, Knit Sweater, Studded Bag, Ballet Flats, White Blouse, Jeans, Mule Heels, Hobo Bag, Earrings}

{Pumpkin Coaster, Glass Coaster, Napkins, Serving Bowl, Spider Web Trivet, Embroidered Pillow, Bat Wreath, Rattan Bat}

1 – RATTAN BATS

Rattan Bats

Happy Saturday! We’re wrapping up our last week of summer and it has definitely been busy! Lots of back to school prep – shopping for school supplies and college essentials, hair cuts, dr. appointments, end of summer activities.. all the things! A friend and I were joking about how quickly time keeps flying by and we decided it’s basically time to start planning Christmas parties.. ha. Feels like that sometimes doesn’t it!? I still can’t believe it’s already August! In my house that means time to pull out the rattan bats. :) Remember these cute little guys from last year? They sold out before I could even share how I styled them! Hoping that’s not the case this year, but I’m sharing them early so that if they do sell fast again you have a chance to get them if you want them!

2 – FUN FALL GIFT

{Pumpkin & Sweet Vanilla Hand Soap HERE and HERE/ Cute fall dish cloths HERE and HERE and HERE}

Also re-sharing these cute fall gifts for anyone who likes to plan ahead. My favorite hand soap is back in stock and it’s my favorite gift to give each fall paired with some cute fall dish cloths!

{FREE FALL GIFT TAGS}

Of course you need some cute gift tags to go with them. :) These are perfect to give to a teacher for back to school or a friend or anyone who might enjoy a little fall pick me up! You can find them HERE. (If you’re already on my e-mail list just enter your information again.. it won’t add you twice!)

{Pumpkin & Sweet Vanilla Hand Soap HERE and HERE/ Cute fall dish cloths HERE and HERE and HERE}

LOVE the smell of this hand soap! Fall in a bottle. :)

3 – PUMPKIN PLACEMATS/NAPKINS

{Pumpkin placemats /How to make a pumpkin napkin}

I pulled out my pumpkin placemats with my rattan bats and saw that they are back in stock for another season! I wrote a post about how to make these cute  pumpkin napkins too (so easy!).

Counter Stools

Sometimes you need to make the every day a little more special. :) My boys don’t know it yet but they are about it start eating their breakfast on cute fall plates on top of pumpkin placemats. I don’t know that any actual breakfast will be included (that’s hit and miss..) but the plates will be charming. :)

4 – FALL STEMS

Vase/Branches/Acacia Bowl

These fall branches are also back in stock! Very excited to decorate with them again. I only have two branches in this vase.. they are large and beautiful!

5 – PB FALL

Ceramic Ghosts

While we were at the mall picking up some things for the kids for school I popped into PB and Anthro to see if any cute fall things were appearing. Love these ceramic ghosts! Set a candle inside and they would be so fun at night.

Ceramic Ghost Candle Holder

They also have this set that holds candles too! Both sets come in white and black.

Iron Outdoor Lanterns

These lanterns are also stunning aren’t they!? So fun for fall and the holidays!

Iron Outdoor Lanterns

They come in so many sizes. Wish list!

6 – ANTHRO FALL

Acorn Candle/Pumpkin Candles

Anthro is getting so many cute things in too! Their fall candles are too good.

Pumpkin Clove Candle

This is the BEST fall scent. I’m so ready for this smell and football!

Icon Tumbler

The fall icon tumblers are so much fun too. I think I would drink my water better if I had a few! Or not.. but that’s what I’m telling myself.

Icon Tumbler, Icon Glasses

I saw this cute similar set on Amazon too!

Snake Candle Holder, Halloween Plate, Halloween Glasses

Ok.. click on the snake candle holders to see them in action. So much fun right!? If you’re into the spooky side of Halloween they are perfect!

Pumpkin Coaster

If you prefer “cute” Halloween (more up my alley!) these are fun too. :)

Cheese Board

I love a good cheese board in the fall and this has the cutest handle and comes in 2 sizes. Would also make a beautiful fall gift!

Twisted Candles

Ghost Taper Candles

I love these taper candles too. Always more fun to shop with a friend! Thanks for joining me. These items were too cute to not share. :)

Enjoy your weekend!

Summer is winding down and school is just a few weeks away! With my oldest daughter heading into her 4th year of college and daughter number 2 heading into her second year we have learned a thing or two about what to pack (and what NOT to pack) for dorm/apartment life! I know how overwhelming it can be to try to think of everything your child will need while they are away at school during a time when emotions are high with the anticipation of them moving out. It’s a lot to process and I felt so overwhelmed by it all the first time around! I made a list of items to pack for Ellie before year one and have been adding to it/tweaking it the past few years. I thought I would share it for anyone who could use a good list to help with this process! This list is LONG and just full of suggestions! You know your child best and if you don’t think they need something on this list my advice is to NOT pack it. Dorm space is limited so only pack what they really need and will use. I linked a lot of the items that we bought for our girls below if you want some ideas! (If you are sending your son to college you can definitely ignore a few things!) 

I also made a printable version of this list (with boxes to check off of course!) that you can download HERE. I hope it’s helpful! Below this list I’m sharing more pictures, tips and suggestions! I’m also re-sharing a fun gift for move-in day or to mail during the first month. My girls loved it so much! They have already both asked if I will send it again. :)

DORM ESSENTIALS/BEDDING 

XL moving bags

Twin XL sheets (2 sets)

Mattress topper pad

Mattress topper

Comforter

2 Pillows

2 Pillowcases

Cozy Blanket

Headboard (optional)

Curtain/rod (optional)

Bed shelf

Stool/ottoman (helps with taller beds!)

Standing fan

Desk fan (optional)

ROOM DECOR/STORAGE

Desk lamp

Full length mirror

Floor rug

Decorative Pillow (one or two)

Dry erase calendar/Bulletin board

Wall decor

Hooks for purses, etc.

Command Strips

Command Hooks

Shoe organizer/bin

Underbed Storage

Drawers

Dresser

Over the door hanger

Desk (if not already in dorm)

Zip lock bags

CLOTHES

Hangers

Space saving hangers

Laundry hamper/bag

Laundry pods/dryer sheets

Stain Remover

Dual iron/steamer

Shoes/heels

Slippers (so nice for dorms!)

Clothes

Hats

Pajamas

Dresses

Jacket

Warm Coat

Rain Coat

Swimsuits

Sunglasses

Jewelry

BATHROOM ESSENTIALS

Shower caddy

Shower flip flops

Bath towels

Hand towels

Robe

Bathroom floor rug

Shower curtain (apartments)

HAIR, BODY, SKIN

Sunscreen

Toothpaste/toothbrush/floss

Shampoo/conditioner

Deodorant

Soap

Lotion

Facewash

Q-tips

Nail Clippers/tweezers

Razors

Feminine Hygiene Products

Blowdryer

Curling iron

Hair brush

Hair products

Hair ties

Make-up

Make-up organizer

Make-up remover

Vanity mirror

Hand mirror

HEALTHCARE

Air Purifier

First Aid Kit

Tylenol / Ibuprofen

Cold/flu medicine

Thermometer

Ice packs

Neosporin

Kleenex

Allergy or other medications

Vitamins

Bandaids

CLEANING

Handheld vacuum

Disinfecting wipes

Sponge

All purpose cleaning spray

Cleaning cloths

Trash bags

Trash can

Broom/dustpan

Swiffer mop

Swiffer cloths

SCHOOL/ELECTRONICS

Desk drawer organizer

Scissors

Calculator

Binders/folders

Stamps

Index cards

Paperclips

Notepads/Pens

Highlighters

Laptop

iPad

Backpack

Tape

Post-its

Planner

Stapler

Reading light

Power strip

Extension cord

USB flash drive

Speakers

All charging cords (computer/phone/ipad, etc.)

Portable phone charger

Headphones

AirPods

MISCELANEOUS

Water bottle

Toolkit

Batteries

Umbrella

Suitcase/travel bag

Flashlight

Mini fan

Doorstop

Clear bag/purse

Pepper spray/Birdie alarm

Lock box

Heating pad

Earplugs

Sleep mask

Ice machine

Mini fridge

Kitchen items (if needed)

Documents (social security card, birth certificate, health insurance, AAA details, etc.)

XL moving bags

I’ve shared these moving bags so many times but wow.. definitely a smart purchase! We use them again and again moving the girls in and out of dorms/apartments every year. For Addison we took them right on the airplane with us and just double bagged everything.

Then we stopped at a Target to pick up larger organizers that we couldn’t take on the plane.

BEFORE

A fun before and after of El’s first dorm!

AFTER

AFTER

BEFORE

And a before and after of Ad’s! Move in day is a lot of work so wear comfortable clothes and be prepared to be exhausted by the end of the day. :)

AFTER

AFTER

mattress pad

I don’t recommend spending a lot of money on bedding (it usually looks a little rough by the end of the year!) but one place we did splurge was for this mattress pad. The dorm beds are so hard and this sleepyhead pad is a dream! My girls like their college beds better than their beds at home because of this. :)

Bed shelf

I would definitely recommend a bed shelf if you have a tall bed! Addison loved this to hold her phone and water every night.

shoe organizers

Some dorms have more closet space than others. Ad’s closet didn’t have a lot of room so we hung these shoe organizers on the doors. Next year we are working on taking less shoes! The struggle is real. ;)

Desk Mirror

Both of my girls ended up using their desks as vanity areas to put on their make-up (they studied at the library!) so definitely bring a desk mirror for girls. I linked our favorite!

make-up organizer/white board options

Our make-up organizer also came in handy (the girls keep one at home too!) and Addison always loves a white board calendar to keep track of her schedule and to-do’s.

dressers

Every dorm is different and some come with desks and dressers and some don’t so definitely find out what you will have to work with in the room. We knew the girls wouldn’t have dressers in their room so we bought these slim white options that didn’t take up too much space.

under bed storage

I wish I would have taken a picture of what was behind this bed skirt! A lot of times you can use the space under beds for storage and we had this spot packed with organizers. Ad is short like me so she used this space to change her clothes sometimes too.. ha.

We did the same thing with Ellie and used the space under her bed for storage. We even set her shoes on the top of the drawers. The large set of drawers under the bed was already in this room so we didn’t have to buy as many organizers for this spot.

hanging laundry hamper

I linked the white laundry bag we bought for Addison last year (this picture shows El’s a few years back). I personally like a hanging laundry bag instead of a hamper because a hamper takes up too much space. This is also handy for them to grab and take to the laundry room and use it to bring clean clothes back to their rooms.

Bedroom Tower Fan

We have bought this tower fan 5 times! It’s our absolute favorite. My girls both keep one in their dorms and they have one in their bedrooms at home too. Kole has the same fan in his bedroom in black. It’s such a good fan and it’s perfect for dorms because it cools the room quickly and doesn’t take up much space.

flower ottoman / more ottoman options

You can see Ad’s fan next to my husband.. who fell asleep on the floor. This was when we visited for parents weekend and the boys needed some down time. Ha.

Ottomans are another suggestion if beds are tall! Kids can use them for stepping stools and they can double as storage.

Boys came alive again (we did our hair while they were napping) and we were good to go! ;)

College Care Package

This is the cute gift I sent my girls after they had been in school for a few weeks! I wanted to have it ready to give them when we said good-bye at drop off, but there were so many things to pack and remember that trip that it just felt like too much. Either way it’s such a special gift to help them start the year! You can see all of the items I put inside the envelopes in this blog post.

College Care Package

Aren’t they fun!? So special to have little gifts to look forward to opening during the first couple of months that are always an adjustment period.

College Care Package

A little piece of mom and dad and home. :)

Pocket Hug

I’ve shared this cute little pocket hug pin so many times now! I bought it to go in the envelope “open when you miss us” and wrote a note with it telling my girls that the pin would be good luck and a reminder of how much we love them and are always with them. Addison sent us a text a week later with this picture of her on campus heading to take her first biology exam and told us she was going to take it with her to all of her tests throughout college for good luck.

She did! I got a text with a picture like these on every test day. Cue the tears. I’m so proud of my girls. :)

Speaking of tears.. college good-byes are never easy.

I don’t think anything can prepare you for the overwhelming emotions that come with dropping off your child at college for the first time. It’s the end of an era that is just so difficult to say good-bye to. Pack LOTS of tissues!

I could write a whole post about the grief that comes with this transition (at least my experience with it!). It hasn’t been easy for me and I still miss having my girls home with me every day that they are away at college.

But it’s getting easier! FaceTime is my best friend.

And when you get texts like this and you see your child happy and thriving and adulting you are filled with so much love and pride you could burst.

When I dropped my girls off at college the quote from the movie Hope Floats came to my mind. “Beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it’s the middle that counts the most.”  I think this experience is incredibly emotional because even though it’s an exciting time, it’s also a scary beginning and a sad ending. But over the past four years I’ve learned that it’s also a beautiful new middle. I’m working every day to enjoy that middle and to make it count the most. :)

Sending a HUGE hug (and tissues!) to every parent dropping a child off at college this year! We’ve got this.

Dust Buster Blanket Light Up Ghost Ghost Pillow Cover Ghost String Lights Earrings

{Blanket, Earrings, Sock Boots, PAIGE Jeans, Pom Pom Blanket, Black Tee, Nike Air Max, Charm Necklace} {Dust Buster, Light Up Ghost, Ghost String Lights, Ghost Pillow Cover, Pillow Insert, Tower Power Strip, Washing Machine Cleaner, XL Moving Bags}

{Starfish Necklace, Shell Earrings, Shell Bracelet Stack, Starfish Earrings, Turquoise Choker, Bracelet Stack, Shell Starfish Ring} {Stacking Bangles, Bracelet Set, Hoop Earrings, Heart Pendant Necklace, Pendant Earrings, Cluster Necklace, Gold Hoop Set, CZ Earrings} {Autumn Wreath, Fall Serving Board, Oak Wreath, Pumpkin Candle, Glass Pumpkin, Icon glass, Pumpkin Taper Candle} {Faux Pumpkins, Faux Acorn Branch, Pumpkin Slippers, Woven Drum Pendant, Quilted Pillows, Oversized Spider, Ghost Wreath, Napkin Set, Coasters}

1 – NEW FLOWERS

Happy Saturday! I can’t believe we are nearing the end of July. Summer is flying. It always does! I snapped some pics of these flowers in our front yard. We planted them new a few months ago and I want to document their progress!

The rose bushes in the middle are mostly done blooming for now and the lavender in the back will grow over time. I can’t wait to see this spot next summer when everything is taller and in full bloom!

2 – HOUSE IN ORDER

Dust Buster

Late night vacuum charging to prep for a day of drawer organization.

Of course everyone came home and my house was a disaster again two days later but it sure felt good while it lasted!

3/4 – WEARING LATELY/N SALE

Earrings

I’ve been living in these earrings from the N sale. They are a perfect size and look so real!

Addison and I also picked up these matching sweatshirts for our morning walks (so cute!). We’ve had a lot of cool, cloudy weather on the coast this summer which is nice but also means that the heat is yet to come. I bet we are sweating in our Halloween costumes this October! Ad loves the matching zip fleece hoodie too. We tried the pants and didn’t love the fit.

Large Check In Roller, Carry-On

LOVE this luggage and it’s still in stock! We have a couple of trips planned for the fall and I can’t wait to use these.

Slipper Slides, Collar Slippers

Cozy Uggs are also still in stock!

  FRAME Jeans, Stripe Sweater, Similar Booties, Butterfly Necklace

This cute stripe sweater is still in stock and the jeans are too in a few sizes!

Love this finish spray for keeping your makeup in place! It makes a great gift too because it’s something anyone can use.

Nike Low Top Sneakers, Backpack

Love this backpack. It comes in 3 color patterns.

Rib Sweater Tank, Nike Low Top Sneakers

I snapped this running out the door half ready! These sneakers are so cute and go with everything. Still in stock in some sizes! The rib sweater tank has been on repeat for me too and it’s also still available in a few sizes.

Pillow Insert, Linen Pillow Cover, Ravenna Block Print Pillow Cover, Jojo Oversized Throw

This pretty striped throw is still in stock!

Zuma Blanket

So is my long time favorite zuma blanket. Looks so high end at the bottom of a bed!

Soft Stretch Bikini, Soft Stretch Thong, T-Shirt Bra

One of the items you all loved the most from my N sale posts are the soft stretch underwear! It made me happy because I felt a little silly sharing this pic.. ha. Still in stock and a great deal during the sale.

5 – SKIN CARE SALE/GIFTS

6 – PICTURE DUMP

Ending this already too long post with a few recent pics! We had so much fun with my brother in town. Lots of laughing and Padre games for my cute nephew’s 12th birthday. It felt like a birthday weekend for Kenny too because he was so happy to have people around who actually care about baseball.. ha.

I’ve been chilling with these two non stop and don’t want our time together to end! We love our Starbucks work sessions. I bring a Coke Zero in with me every time but the people who work at our local Starbucks know us well and don’t mind. We are keeping them in business with Addison’s pink drink obsession.

Lots of date nights with this one.

Mexican food for the win! Always a good time with these two.

This is another fun restaurant we tried recently. It’s called The Marine Room in La Jolla and is so cool. Especially during high tide! You feel like you are sitting right on the ocean because you are. :)

I couldn’t really capture how beautiful it was to watch the sun go down while we were eating. The waves just slap against the windows!

This is a view from above when it was darker. Isn’t that the coolest!? Definitely something fun to book if you are local or visiting San Diego.

Cheers to good friends and good restaurants and good sales and a good cleaning day and summer in general.

Life is good.

:)