my top 10 college essentials

Hello from four floors up!

Since I have been at college for a little over 2 months, I am going to be sharing 10 of my favorite essentials. I can’t imagine college life without these products, so keep reading to learn more…

A weekender bag

When you want to head back home for the weekend or visit a friend at college, a weekender/ duffle bag comes in handy! I bought my grey weekender bag from Brandy Melville & it is by the brand John Galt USA. It is not available online, but you can find a similar style here from Herschel.

Artificial plants & succulents

To brighten up any space, I suggest investing in some artificial succulents. Don’t get me wrong, I love real plants, but in order to avoid dying succulents, I invested in artificial ones. I purchased mine from Marshall’s and Target, but any local home décor store usually offers a large selection!

Brita

To maintain a constant supply of fresh, filtered water, I advise purchasing a Brita. This Amalfi Water Pitcher fits perfectly in our micro-fridge and has a 5 cup capacity.

S’well

Sticking with the water theme, this next product is a common college necessity – the s’well water bottle. Featured in my “what’s in my backpack” post, more information about my s’well selection can be found here.

Speaker

To jam out with friends or play some relaxing background music, I love my Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth speaker. It produces an amazing sound and connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth. Bose offers many other speakers with a range of prices if this particular version doesn’t match your budget.

Room spray

Since most residence halls don’t allow candles, I found room spray to be a dorm essential. I purchased this Aura Cacia Peppermint Room & Body Mist from Whole Foods. However, it is also available at a range of online sites, such as Amazon. I love its subtle and refreshing peppermint scent.

Rain jacket

My most used college essential would definitely have to be my rain jacket. It doesn’t rain much in Philly, but I have loved layering my Target Rain Anorak – Merona jacket. I purchased it in the color “Orion Gray” – the perfect mix of gray and navy.

Portable charger

Nothing is worse than your phone dying when you are out and about, so I suggest investing in a portable iPhone charger. I bought mine from Marshall’s but you can find one like it here from Target.

Milk makeup cooling water

I cannot say enough great things about this product. I have an 8am everyday and cannot imagine my mornings without this Cooling Water stick from Urban Outfitters. This “ultra-refreshing cooling water stick” leaves your skin feeling cool and refreshed. I especially love using it on my eyelids and under eyes, as it helps me wake up in the morning.

Slip-on vans

Take a visit to any campus and you will see most students rockin’ some slip-ons. I purchased my Braided Suede Slip-On Vans in the color Wild Dove. Their braided texture and sleek design make them great shoes for walking the campus. They are extremely comfortable and I love them!

That’s it for now…I hope you enjoyed my top 10 college essentials at the moment.

Let me know in the comments below what some of your essentials are that you can’t imagine living without.

xoxo,

madauer