My family has six pieces of Away luggage in different sizes, and we love every piece! One of our favorites is the carry-on, and right now, you can get a Prime Day Deal on the orange, salt white, red, or cloud gray for 20% off the regular price! Or get the sea green for 15% off. It’s almost unheard of to get this kind of deal on Away Luggage. It’s dependable, lightweight, sturdy, well-crafted, has spinner wheels, and it has been selected as the best hardsided carryon two years in a row by New York Times Wirecutter. I highly recommend! Get them while they last here. Let’s gooooo! ***Makes a great gift for a traveler or college student. Buy early during Prime Days for holidays***
Let’s get ready to travel!
*We receive commission on items purchased through our links.*
Hulken Large Bag. If you’re not familiar with Hulken bags, you should be, and this is the perfect time to get one on sale. The black on is on sale. Hulken bags are soft-sided, rolling shopping bags. Personally, I think the Large bag is just too big, but I know some people like it. I love the medium…see below. The Large and Medium Hulkens are great for moving in and out of dorms, moving business products, or even for college students to transport laundry. I use my Medium one for returns to retails stores. I can load everything in there and roll it into the store easily. It’s on sale for under $100 at Amazon Prime Days! Get it here.
Hulken Medium Bag. My personal favorite Hulken, the Medium bag does everything the large one does and is easier to manage. Does it hold as much? No, but it’s rare I have ever had enough stuff to need something larger than a Medium. The Medium is offered as low as $90.06 for the rose gold, and a few other colors are offered for a similar price. That’s 26% off! Get it here.
Hulken Small Bag. The small is priced at $87.20, which is 20% off. Lots of colors are offered at this price, and it’s a heck of a deal. The midnight blue, green, and purple appear to be selling fastest. Purchase here while supplies last! Did I mention they make great gifts?
Happy Shopping!
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Today’s big Prime Day deals! Get them while they last! Limited quantities…
Baboon to the Moon Mini Go-Bag. It’s called “mini,” but at 32 liters, it’s not small. I use it as a carry-on for all flights. It’s durable, and it comes in lots of great colors. Carry it as a backpack or a duffle…its versatile. I have been using these bags for years, and every time I use it, at least one person asks me where they can get them. They’re a great deal anytime, but at 25% off? It’s a no-brainer. Makes a great gift for anyone. I love mine. My 21-yr-old daughter loves hers. My 79-yr-old aunt loves hers. Even my husband doesn’t mind carrying mine. I think it’s time to get him his own. This one is HIGHLY recommended. Several colors are on sale between $123 and $127. You won’t regret this purchase. Get one for $123.25 in red/black/orange/yellow/grey here. Or get a specialty color like Lime Breeze or Sunset Coral for under $127 here.
Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine by De’Longhi with Milk Frother, Ink Black This is not something I ever thought would purchase, but our college-age daughter is home for the summer and had to have one. She will be taking it to her college apartment when summer is over. Get one now for 35% off during Amazon Prime Days with your Prime membership. I paid $219 for hers, but you can get it for $142.99 while supplies last. Purchase here.
Women’s Sandals Peep Toe Slides Chunky Heel Mules. Not gonna lie…these are some of my favorite “dupe” shoes this summer, and I bought them at full price in three colors! I’m going to get a few more while they’re on sale! I have white, black, nude, and hot pink, and I love them all. Right now, every color is $38.04 or less with your Prime membership. Get them here.
Away Bigger Carry-On Luggage, Lightweight Hardside Large Suitcase with Spinner Wheels, TSA Lock, Airline Approved. Y’all, Away Luggage is rarely discounted. If you’ve been wanting it, get it now. It’s great luggage and is backed up by a great warranty. Right now, you can get this bag for 20% off…almost unheard of! It makes a great holiday or birthday gift, so purchase here.
St.Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzer Mousse Foam, Original Fake Tan Love a tan, but don’t have the time or want to sit in the sun? I swear by St Tropez self-tan products. Amazon Prime Days has a great deal on this product at 30% off, while supplies last. Get it here.
MORE DEALS TO COME! I’M WORKING AS FAST AS I CAN!
***As an Amazon Associate, I receive commissions on products purchased through my links.***
These get their own post…I love these JBL Vibe wireless ear buds and use them every day. They’re actually comfortable, unlike some other brands, and they produce great sound! Get the black or white ones for $34.95 during Prime Days…that’s 30% off! Purchase here. While supplies last!
***LOG IN TO AMAZON WITH YOUR PRIME MEMBERSHIP TO GET THE DEALS. Also, as an Amazon Associate, I receive commissions on products purchased through my links.***
Amazon Prime Days are here, and there are some great beauty deals! Here are some of the best ones:
Dyson Airwrap Origin and/or Dyson Supersonic Origin Dryer. Anytime you can get a discount an a Dyson hairdryer is a great time. Right now, the Dyson Airwrap Origin is $100 off…a rare deal. You pay $399.99 instead of $499.99 for the three-piece set. Get it here. Or save $80 on the Supersonic Origin Dryer and pay $299.99 here. Could be a great time to purchase a Christmas or Hannukah gift! Or if someone on your list has a birthday coming up…buy today!
Nutrafol Hair Growth Supplements. Get 26% off this proven product for visibly thicker hair and scalp coverage…a great deal! Get it here.
Mighty Patch Pimple Patches. I know someone who swears by these. If you have a daughter going through sorority recruitment this fall, this could be a great addition to her beauty products. They’re 25% off with Amazon Prime Days. Purchase here.
COLOR WOW Dream Coat Supernatural Spray at 30% off! Save over $8 on this product that stops frizz and makes hair shiny! I love this stuff. Get it here.
Shark Hair Dryer | FlexStyle Hair Styling System…Regularly $369.99…now $249.99! This is for the whole styling system. The Shark system is normally quite a bit less expensive than the full Dyson System (about $600), and right now it’s even less! You can get this special deal on the Shark System! Get it while supplies last here.
IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream – Full-Coverage Foundation I love IT Cosmetics Foundation, and now is time to stock up if you do too! Its 40% off! That’s unheard of! I’m stocking up today. You can stock up here. Or get IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Illumination – Full-Coverage Foundation With SPF 50 for 40% off here.
LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Award-Winning Baked Balance-n-Brighten Color Correcting Powder Foundation I have friends who swear by this foundation for mature skin. Right now, you can get it for 50% off with your Prime membership here.
Supergoop Glow Screen. I love it…purchased it a couple of months ago and love it. This stuff rarely goes on sale, but you can get this primer/tinted sunscreen for 20% off on Prime Days here.
Oral-B Genius X Limited Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush This is a fantastic deal at 50% off! Get it here.
IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream – Hydrating & Anti Aging Face Moisturizer I have loved this moisturizer for years, and you (and I) can get it for 40% off with Amazon Prime membership here.
Too Faced Lip Injection Maximum Plump Extra Strength Lip Plumper Gloss I cannot express how much I love this product, and during Prime Days, we can get it for 30% off while supplies last! It really plumps. I know, because I use it every day. I also tested it on my hand, and it literally plumped the skin on my hand. Available in five colors. Let’s gooooo! Get it here.
THAT’S NOT ALL! POSTING MORE ALL DAY AND THROUGH THE 11TH! CHECK BACK!
I’m not going to waste any time…just getting straight to the good stuff. Need dorm items at a good discount? Click through the links below! (As an Amazon associate, I receive commissions on items purchased through my links.)
Some of these are EARLY DEALS you can get now, while others might start tomorrow. Get these deals!
Fire TV. If your student wants a TV in his/her dorm room, Amazon has a great deal on an Amazon Fire 32″ TV. It’s what our daughter has, and it’s what we have in our upstairs bedrooms at home. For us, they have been great. Purchase for just $69.99 (at publication time) here. That’s 46% off the regular price! Or maybe your student wants/needs the 55- inch Fire TV. It’s almost half off, priced at just $189.99 (regularly $349.99)! That’s a steal! See it here.
Big Fire TV. If you have a son or daughter who lives in an apartment with roommates, they might need a bigger TV. Right now, Amazon has a 75″ Fire TV at 48% off…that’s $569.99 for a huge TV (regularly $1099.99)! Purchase here.
Clothes Steamer. I know you think your student doesn’t need a steamer, but girls need a steamer…especially if they are participating in sorority recruitment in the south. You can get a handheld steamer or a standing steamer. When our daughter was a freshman, I got her a standing steamer, because I know it wouldn’t “walk away” to someone else’s room. You can purchase one on sale at Amazon here. If you prefer a handheld steamer, you can get one at a deep discount here.
Mattress Topper. A college freshman moving into a dorm needs a mattress topper. Lately, it seems most dorm beds are sized Twin XL, so I’m sharing a deal on one that size. Bedsure offers a 4-inch topper that gets great reviews for just $99.99 through Amazon at time of writing. Purchase here. If you’re looking for something more high-end for your little darling, I highly recommend the Sleepyhead brand 3-inch gel topper you can purchase here. It’s not on sale, and it’s pricey ($399), but there is a coupon on Amazon that makes it $60 less than normal…$339. If you prefer the Sleepyhead brand 2-inch gel topper, it costs less and has a coupon right now too. Originally priced at $299, you can get it now for $259 with the coupon on Amazon. Get it here. It’s a great, proven brand. We got our daughter the 3-inch gel topper from Sleepyhead when she was a freshman, and she used it for two years and loved it. It’s all about personal budget and preference. ***Double-check the size of the beds in your student’s dorms before buying.***
Moving Bags. You’ll need them, and Amazon has a Prime Deal on some heavy-duty moving bags right now. Purchase before they’re gone here.
Backpack. A few different brands are being offered at great prices in early Prime Days deals. Check these out: Zorfin 26L backpack for $16.99here. Amazon Basics backpack for $20.13 here. Or check out the huge assortment here.
Desk Organizer. There are a few different desk organizers from Amazon Basics on Early Prime Days deals…different shapes at different prices. Click on the price to see the organizer: $8.99, $10.99, $15.99, and $22.47. Keep in mind…there are only so many set aside for the bargain prices. Right now, at time of writing, the $22.47 organizer is showing 7% claimed.
Air purifier. If your student is moving into an older dorm, you definitely need an air purifier. My daughter lived in a brand new dorm her freshman year, and I found that it was dusty, simply because it was new construction. We got her a small purifer. Right now, there’s an early Prime Days deal on one from Levoit for just $39.97 here. Or pay more but still get a Prime Days deal on a “smart” one from BlueAir here.
Velvet Hangers. NOT a Prime Days deal, but your students needs these, and they are inexpensive. They take up less room that plastic hangers, and because they are “velvet,” the provide a non-slip surface…less likely to find clothes on the floor. Highly recommend! Get them for your student here.
I’m watching the deals in all categories…not just college buys…on Prime Days (starting July 8!), and I will try to get the info out there as fast as I can!
I will be posting more deals as I come across them! Happy Shopping!
I just saw a video on social media about a new trend. Apparently, teenagers are calling their friends at night and saying something along the lines of, “I just wanted to call you and say good night and I love you.” It’s funny to see what the various reactions are.
I don’t call my friends at night and say, “Good night and I love you,” but I do tell my friends I love them at the end of a phone conversation…or even at the end of a get-together. It’s something my family did, and it’s something I have carried over into my friendships. My friend, Wendy, who passed away seven years ago (June 4 is the seventh anniversary of her passing), thought it was weird at first. When we would be hanging up the phone or leaving a gathering, I would say, “Love you!” She would laugh. She wasn’t one who was demonstrative in that way. I would say, “It’s OK. You don’t have to say it back. I know you love me.” But I changed her over the years. I wore her down. Eventually, after several years of friendship, she starting saying, “I love you too, sista.” I’m so happy I wore her down with that. She passed away when she was 46 after a 30 year battle with various cancers. God bless her. She was a fighter. I find peace in knowing she KNEW I loved her, and I knew she loved me. Now that I think about it, maybe I didn’t wear her down. Maybe her constant battles with cancer made her start saying it. Maybe she knew I needed to hear it. The “why” doesn’t really matter, though. She said it.
My parents heard me tell them I loved them almost every single day of my life, and I heard it too. By the time they passed away, they had likely heard it thousands of times. Does that give me some peace? Of course it does. I hope it gave them peace as they were dying. I hope they knew they were loved and that their memories would live on through me and my brother. I hope they knew we loved them and would tell stories about them for the rest of our lives…daily.
Recently, as I was hanging up the phone with a friend…a guy I have known for years who is a close family friend…I said, “Ok, love you, honey!” I said it without realizing it, and I heard the hesitation. I don’t even remember how he responded…some sort of mumbled something. I texted him afterward, “Did my ‘love ya honey’ freak you out? I do tell everyone that, so it’s OK to say it to you.” He responded, “Wasn’t quite sure what you said.” I said, “I said it out of habit. It’s just what I do. Lol.” And that’s the truth. I tell my daughter, my husband, my brother, my aunt, my cousins, my friends, my daughter’s friends…lots of people are on my “love ya honey” list. Do I mean it? You bet I do!
I’m turning 58 tomorrow, and the older I get, the more I realize how important it is to let people know we love them and appreciate them. I love getting older, and I love the “wisdom” that comes with it. I define wisdom as “knowing you only know a little bit about all there is to know in the world, and knowing you can always learn a lot more.” Part of my “wisdom” is knowing I need people to know they are loved.
I think it’s a good “habit.” I always want my friends and family to know the last thing I said to them is “I love you.” So if we talk on the phone or have lunch any time soon, don’t be surprised if I say “love you” before we hang up or before we part ways. It’s OK if you don’t say it back. I won’t take it personally, but I won’t stop saying it.
My daughter just finished her junior year of college.. It’s hard for me to believe she is 3/4 of the way through college. I remember my own college days so well; I’m so happy she is getting to go to the same awesome university and have her own experiences. We feel pretty seasoned now that she has survived three years. So while I’m thinking about it, and since you have time to prepare now, I’m going to make some suggestions on necessities. Seriously, I know graduation festivities (ugh) are upon you, but start purchasing and ordering now, and you’ll have less to do as your college freshman’s departure approaches. You can also spread out the expenses over the next few months instead of being slapped in the face with big credit card bills at dorm move-in time. These are just a few items I recommend purchasing early, before everyone else jumps in, making them difficult to find.
Mattress Topper. I never met a dorm mattress I liked. Goodness. One would think they could find a way to improve those things. I was a freshman in 1985, and I daresay my daughter’s freshman dorm mattress was no more comfortable than the one I had way back when. We knew that would be the case, so we invested in a quality mattress topper. There are lots of them out there, but we opted for the Sleepyhead brand. Our daughter’s dorm room has a twin XL bed, so we ordered the Twin XL 3″ Topper from Sleepyhead. She loves it. Priced at over $300, it’s not cheap, but right now, they are offering a $70 coupon. It’s probably some of the best money I’ve ever spent. Our daughter used hers freshman year in the dorm and sophomore year in the sorority house. She loved sleeping in her bed, calling it “cozy and comfy.” She got two full years of use out of it. She moved into an apartment with a queen bed last year, so she can’t use the topper again, but we purchased Sleepyhead topper for her queen bed. Check out Sleepyhead on Amazon here. ***Keep it in the box until you get to the dorm room!***
Stand-up Steamer. I think people thought I was crazy when I told them I was getting our daughter a stand-up steamer to take to college with her, but it is one thing that definitely got used…and it’s so much easier than ironing! Plus, a stand-up steamer won’t “walk away” to someone else’s dorm room, never to be seen again! Our daughter participated in sorority recruitment as soon as she arrived at school, so I knew she would need to steam out her dresses before she wore them. We couldn’t have her showing up all wrinkled! She tells me she has used it countless times throughout the year for steaming formal dresses, cocktail dresses, and anything else that was overly wrinkled. We opted for the a Rowenta model. You can see it and purchase it on Amazon here. If you want to purchase a handheld steamer instead, I highly recommend one from Rowenta you can purchase here.
Bankers Box Smooth Move Wardrobe Boxes. These stand-up boxes are more for the move-in, but they were big helps with our daughter’s hanging garments. They have a bar across the top on which to hang the clothes, and they hold a lot of clothes. We only used one, and our daughter took a lot of clothes with her. When we arrived in the dorm, we simply lifted the hangers off the bar and moved them straight to the closet bar…super easy. For about $44, you’ll get three bankers boxes. We gave one to a friend who was going off to college too, and saved the third one…might use it for move-out. You can purchase here.
Swiffer Sweeper 2-in-1 Mop. I don’t know how often this item has been used, but if they can’t really clean the floor without it. At least give them a fighting chance at having a “clean-ish” floor. Plus, you will want to run it through the room before you set everything up. Just get it. It will make you feel better knowing your child can mop the floor if he/she chooses or needs to! Get it from Amazon here.
Velvet Hangers. I know how easy it is for a college student on the go to grab a shirt and just snatch it off the hanger on the way to class. Hangers go flying, and other items fall to the bottom of the closet. That doesn’t happen with velvet hangers. They have added a lot of organization to my own closet. I purchase Zober non-slip Velvet Hangers in Ivory. Just trust me on this one. Shirts don’t get horns in the shoulders. Dresses hang nicely and don’t fall off the hanger and into the floor. Get them at Amazon here. You’ll think you won’t need many, but start with 200.
And I’m going to repeat some move-in essentials from a piece I wrote recently:
Hulken Bag. I ordered two. My daughter has one at college, and I have one at home, but I will take mine down with me when we move her out. They simply make moving lots of items easier. We got large ones. Get them here.
Moving Bags. These are similar to the Ikea moving bags, but I ordered from Amazon, because I thought these were a little bigger and sturdier. They worked great for move-in, and I expect them to work great for move-out too! Get them here. (Keep in mind: these sell out during summer, as families stock up on them, so get yours early.)
Collapsible Wagon. We got one of these for our daughter when she was returning to college after the holidays. It was an easy way for her to get everything from the parking garage to her room. Get it here.
Versacart. This is one my aunt told me about, and it’s awesome! She calls it her “old lady cart,” but it does the job! She uses it to bring in groceries or any packages from her car. Get it here.
Stick with me, moms of future college students, and I’ll provide you with all sorts of helpful ideas over the next few months. Start shopping now! And please use my links above to purchase! *I may be compensated for some of the items I suggest, but I wouldn’t suggest them if I didn’t believe in them!
When I was growing up, I heard adults (including my parents) start sentences with “when I was a kid” all the time. As a teenager, I would hear it and think, “Everything’s not like it was in the 1950s!” Now, I catch myself saying it.
We are staying in a rental beach condo for the long weekend. Our college student daughter and a friend met us here. Yesterday, my daughter texted me at 8:30am, asking, “What is that noise?” I thought it was probably people at the elevator, so I told her to turn on white noise to drown it out. This morning, she texted me again, “I hear kids outside my window again.” Her window faces the hallway. I decided to investigate, expecting to find people talking while waiting for the elevator.
I opened the door and stepped into the hallway, and I was surprised to find four little boys…ages approximately 3, 4, 8, and maybe 10…playing in the hall. Yes, playing in the hall. Don’t get me wrong. I love when children play, but in the hallway of a hotel-type building? No, thank you.
This is where “when I was a kid” comes in. When I was a kid, my parents had very strict rules about hotels. We were not allowed to run and play in hotel hallways. We were not allowed to talk loudly in the hallway or even in the room…no indoor “horseplay” at all. We were not allowed to play on the elevators. We were allowed to play as much as we wanted in the pool and in resort play areas. It was about respecting the other hotels guests. We didn’t want to disturb them. My husband and I held our daughter to the same standard and had the same rules. We didn’t even have to “enforce” the rules, because she understood she wasn’t supposed to do those things. Not once in my life have I ever had someone ask me to hold down the noise in a hotel.
I know I’m not alone about this rude behavior, because I read an article about the “most annoying” hotel guests, and you can read it here.
That brings me back to the kids in the hall. I was on the phone with a friend when the kids were playing in the hallway today, so I asked my friend what she thought. She told me her parents had the same rules as mine, and she and her husband have the same rules for their kids. Apparently, the parents of the kids in the hall this morning don’t have the same rules.
There is no way I would admonish them, but I decided to speak nicely with them. I stepped outside where the four kids under ten were playing and said, “Hey guys! I have a favor to ask. Do you mind holding the noise down a little? My kids are trying to sleep in the room right here.” They said, “Yes ma’am.” And I said, “Thank you so much. Y’all are very sweet.”
And you know what? They actually kept the noise down! They were good kids. It wasn’t their fault their parents were allowing them to engage in the most annoying hotel guest behavior. When I was a kid, that wouldn’t have happened on my parents’ watch.
The best pill bottle organizer for travel and home (and it makes a great graduation gift!).
This week, I found the best pill bottle organizer bag for home and travel! I know there are lots of people who don’t have any regular prescriptions, but a pill bottle organizer bag is great for essential over-the-counter meds too! Just recently, at spring break, my college-age daughter found herself feeling ill, but she had not taken any pain or nausea medications with her! I couldn’t believe she was traveling without essentials like her Zofran prescription, but she was. That’s when I first thought about a pill bottle organizer…one for her and one for me. Anyone who is a mom knows it’s always up to us to provide the meds for our families at home and when traveling.
For years, I have carried all those pill bottles (my prescriptions and over-the-counter meds) in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag. I always put that big Ziploc bag in my carry-on bag when I travel, because who wants an airline losing their medications?! On a recent trip, though, I realized that’s probably not the best way to carry my meds and vitamins. I was at a hotel, and one of my prescriptions had fallen out of the Ziploc bag into my carry-on bag. I panicked when I didn’t see it in the Ziploc, but I found it when I looked in my carry-on, and I realized I must have left an opening in the Ziploc in my haste. I needed to do something different.
When I returned home, I went online to Amazon to look for a pill bottle organizer bag. In fact, I wish I had thought of this sooner for me and my daughter! It would make a great graduation gift! I know young ladies don’t think they need to carry medications with them, but they do need to carry the essentials when they travel, and they need to have them in their dorm rooms and apartments! I wanted something soft that had slots for medications but wouldn’t take up too much room in my carry-on bag. Of course, Amazon had exactly what I needed! In fact, I have already put my medications in it, so I’m ready for a trip! I’m leaving the meds in the organizer all the time, so I can use it at home and just zip it closed when it’s time to travel.
You can see the one I purchased here, and I highly recommend it! It’s soft-sided, and it won’t take up a lot of room in my carry-on bag, but it has plenty of room for my essential meds and extras like Tylenol, Advil, nausea meds, vitamins, seasonal allergy meds, eye drops, and more. Yes, I actually carry anything I can think of, because who wants to try to find a pharmacy when you’re traveling? I like to try to have everything on hand. This particular “organizer” comes in two colors: Misty Rose and Black. I opted for the Misty Rose, because in a dark carry-on, it’s easier for my 57-yr-old eyes to see something lighter.
I like using it at home, and I am leaving town tomorrow, so it will be my first trip with my new pill organizer!
I highly recommend purchasing this pill bottle organizer here for yourself and anyone on your list for graduation gifts! At under $30, it’s a deal! To give it to someone graduating from high school, you can add some essentials: Tylenol, Advil, antacids, over-the-counter seasonal allergy meds, and maybe a pill cutter. (Purchase a pill cutter here.)
***As an Amazon Associate, I receive commissions on items purchased through my links.***
Kelly's Favorite Things 