Tag / organizers

by Kelly Mattei

Dorm Stuff on Amazon Prime Days 2025!

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 $16.99 here. 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!

by Kelly Mattei

College Nesting?

***I posted this two years ago, in 2022, when I was preparing to send our daughter off to college 450 miles away. If you’re about to send your child off to college, you can do this!***

College nesting?

Nineteen years ago, we were eagerly awaiting the arrival of our daughter. She was due on October 11, so in August and September of that year, I was in full-on “nesting mode.” Anyone who has ever expected a baby knows what I’m talking about…that need to get every detail squared away before the baby arrives. Back then, we read all about it in What to Expect When You’re Expecting, so we weren’t surprised when we found ourselves lining drawers and washing everything in sight.

Fast forward 19 years, and I find myself doing the same thing.

Why am I “nesting” for my soon-to-be college freshman?

Why am I nesting for my soon-to-be college freshman? It had never occurred to me that this could happen, but a couple of days ago, as I packed up some IKEA bags with dorm bedding, lighting, and other items, I realized, “I’m nesting.” Unfortunately, I haven’t ever found a book called What to Expect When You’re Sending Your Child to College, so I don’t have any reference. Sure, I have called my friends who have college kids and asked them about it. They all assure me that what I’m doing is perfectly normal…that it’s a way of dealing with the transition. I just wish I could see it in writing somewhere.

Is the transition going to be easy? No. I am beyond excited for our daughter. She is going to enjoy the full college experience at my alma mater. Sure, there will be days she is stressed out or even homesick, but hopefully, I will be able to talk her through it. Or her friends will distract her. Or she will get busy and forget about homesickness. As for me, I don’t know who will talk me through it. I will miss her like crazy. Will I be able to handle it? Yes, of course. No, I’m not planning to move to be near her college. In fact, I have three big vacations planned for the month following her departure. If that doesn’t help take my mind off it, nothing will.

But that’s why this whole college nesting thing happens…for the parents. Any good parent is likely a little worried about their college-bound kid. I’m not worried about her handling the school work. She will figure that out. I know, too, that she will make new friends quickly…especially since she will be living in a dorm. It’s more of a concern about her spinning her wheels trying to get everything else done. I know she can and will do it, but my nesting instinct is making me prepare everything I can for her room. Cold/nausea/pain medications? Check. I don’t want her to have to run out to look for meds if she is feeling poorly. Cleaning supplies/vacuum cleaner? Check. I have no idea how often she and her roommate will clean the bathroom in their dorm room, but I want to make sure the tools are there. Laundry supplies/clothing prep? Check. I have packed a stand-up steamer and laundry supplies, including Static Guard, a wrinkle releaser, an on-the-go spot remover, and a small sewing kit. Basic school supplies? Check. Having a few things in advance won’t hurt. Bins and organizers for the room? Check. They likely won’t be used as planned, but they have them if they want them.

I know she and her roommate will need to go out and get more things after we, the parents, hit the road. It will give them an excuse to get out of the dorm for a little while. Do I think they will end up doubling up on some of the things I have carefully packed and organized for them? Yes, because they won’t even look at a lot of the things I have packed. They won’t even realize they already have rubberbands and paperclips. And that’s OK.

Whether they use the things I have packed or not, I will know I sent her off prepared for most things. She might go out and look for Band-Aids for the blisters on her heels even though I packed them in a medicine box for them. And again, that’s OK. I know those Band-Aids are there for them. That’s why I’m “college nesting,” just like other parents are all over the country right now. Sure, it’s for them, but mostly, it makes me feel better about her departure. By focusing on mundane tasks, I am not focusing on the fact that this child (adult?) I have nurtured and loved for almost 19 years is flying the coop.

She is leaving us and will never live in our house again on a permanent basis. I think that’s the fact I am trying to process while I’m preparing her for the next school year. We are proud parents. We are happy that she is moving into this next phase of life, and we are excited about what it means for us too. But it’s going to be a transition, for sure.

I guess I should get busy packing up some clothes for her today.

by Kelly Mattei

College Nesting?

College nesting?

Nineteen years ago, we were eagerly awaiting the arrival of our daughter. She was due on October 11, so in August and September of that year, I was in full-on “nesting mode.” Anyone who has ever expected a baby knows what I’m talking about…that need to get every detail squared away before the baby arrives. Back then, we read all about it in What to Expect When You’re Expecting, so we weren’t surprised when we found ourselves lining drawers and washing everything in sight.

Fast forward 19 years, and I find myself doing the same thing.

Why am I “nesting” for my soon-to-be college freshman?

Why am I nesting for my soon-to-be college freshman? It had never occurred to me that this could happen, but a couple of days ago, as I packed up some IKEA bags with dorm bedding, lighting, and other items, I realized, “I’m nesting.” Unfortunately, I haven’t ever found a book called What to Expect When You’re Sending Your Child to College, so I don’t have any reference. Sure, I have called my friends who have college kids and asked them about it. They all assure me that what I’m doing is perfectly normal…that it’s a way of dealing with the transition. I just wish I could see it in writing somewhere.

Is the transition going to be easy? No. I am beyond excited for our daughter. She is going to enjoy the full college experience at my alma mater. Sure, there will be days she is stressed out or even homesick, but hopefully, I will be able to talk her through it. Or her friends will distract her. Or she will get busy and forget about homesickness. As for me, I don’t know who will talk me through it. I will miss her like crazy. Will I be able to handle it? Yes, of course. No, I’m not planning to move to be near her college. In fact, I have three big vacations planned for the month following her departure. If that doesn’t help take my mind off it, nothing will.

But that’s why this whole college nesting thing happens…for the parents. Any good parent is likely a little worried about their college-bound kid. I’m not worried about her handling the school work. She will figure that out. I know, too, that she will make new friends quickly…especially since she will be living in a dorm. It’s more of a concern about her spinning her wheels trying to get everything else done. I know she can and will do it, but my nesting instinct is making me prepare everything I can for her room. Cold/nausea/pain medications? Check. I don’t want her to have to run out to look for meds if she is feeling poorly. Cleaning supplies/vacuum cleaner? Check. I have no idea how often she and her roommate will clean the bathroom in their dorm room, but I want to make sure the tools are there. Laundry supplies/clothing prep? Check. I have packed a stand-up steamer and laundry supplies, including Static Guard, a wrinkle releaser, an on-the-go spot remover, and a small sewing kit. Basic school supplies? Check. Having a few things in advance won’t hurt. Bins and organizers for the room? Check. They likely won’t be used as planned, but they have them if they want them.

I know she and her roommate will need to go out and get more things after we, the parents, hit the road. It will give them an excuse to get out of the dorm for a little while. Do I think they will end up doubling up on some of the things I have carefully packed and organized for them? Yes, because they won’t even look at a lot of the things I have packed. They won’t even realize they already have rubberbands and paperclips. And that’s OK.

Whether they use the things I have packed or not, I will know I sent her off prepared for most things. She might go out and look for Band-Aids for the blisters on her heels even though I packed them in a medicine box for them. And again, that’s OK. I know those Band-Aids are there for them. That’s why I’m “college nesting,” just like other parents are all over the country right now. Sure, it’s for them, but mostly, it makes me feel better about her departure. By focusing on mundane tasks, I am not focusing on the fact that this child (adult?) I have nurtured and loved for almost 19 years is flying the coop.

She is leaving us and will never live in our house again on a permanent basis. I think that’s the fact I am trying to process while I’m preparing her for the next school year. We are proud parents. We are happy that she is moving into this next phase of life, and we are excited about what it means for us too. But it’s going to be a transition, for sure.

I guess I should get busy packing up some clothes for her today.