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MY OPINION ON: THERAPY

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In short, my opinion on therapy is thus: everyone should go to therapy. In reality, I know that some people do not have the time or money to go, but I think that everyone would benefit from it.

Many people think that they shouldn’t go to therapy unless they have a severe reason to. While some people do have an intense need to go to therapy due to trauma or grief, people that don’t face such circumstances will most likely find that therapy is good for them too. Even if something isn’t necessarily wrong in their lives, it can still be valuable to walk through one’s emotions and situations.

People may also say that they don’t need therapy because they can talk to their friends about their problems, but the truth is, a therapist is the type of friend that everyone wants but few people have. For example, a therapist is actually trained to talk to you and work through things, which unfortunately most friends are not. Additionally, while friends do have the best intentions, it may be hard to have a therapeutic conversation without feeling judged, without your friend changing the subject, or without a friend brushing off your feelings. For me, I can safely say that I can think of only 3 people who I can trust not to judge me, but that doesn’t mean that I should expect them to ‘therapize’ me. Sure, I can also have deep conversations with my friends and family, but there is a lot of prefacing that may occur. An example of this would be saying “it’s so fine if you don’t want to answer, but what happened when…” This may establish trust and caring, but it also creates an awkward moment if someone doesn’t want to talk, and relationships may become strained if it feels like someone is withdrawn, or if asking questions feels like someone is prying. Additionally, sometimes friends aren’t the best listeners, so going to someone who is paid to listen and trained to help you may make difficult conversations easier.

With a therapist, there are fewer uncomfortable moments than with a friend because you’re in the office knowing that you may get into the nitty-gritty. Even crying is less awkward with a therapist because you may not feel obligated to act like everything is fine. Of course, I think your true friends wouldn’t expect you to always be fine, and they would want to be there for you, but it may be harder to bring up problems with a friend than a therapist, and they won’t necessarily be able to help you as effectively.

A final reason therapists and friends are different is that a therapist has more of an obligation to call you out on bad behavioral patterns. Friends may also have this obligation, but many people would rather encourage you to ‘do you’, than say that what you’re doing is a bad idea. I don’t think this makes someone a bad friend, but it would make them a bad therapist.

Trust is also a huge part of what a therapist does. Because a therapist is legally obligated to keep everything you say a secret unless you are a danger to yourself or others, it makes it very easy to trust a therapist to keep your feelings private. This trust also works in regards to advice. Because a therapist is there solely to help you, their advice will always be honest and unbiased.

The last reason I believe everyone should go to therapy is because it is cathartic. Some people like to write or paint or run to relax, help shake off the day, or to work through their feelings. While these are always great options, they may fall to the side when things get busy, which is not how one should treat their mental health. Mental health is incredibly important, so just like we pay doctors every year to check in on our physical health, mental health should be prioritized just the same. Funnily enough, mental health appointments are often better (at least for me) than regular doctors appointments. As such, it is easy to prioritize my mental health because I actually enjoy therapy and look forward to it. Even if there is nothing particularly bothering me, therapy always leaves me feeling lighter, as if I did a mental reset. Although not always happy in nature, I often feel happier, more grounded, more motivated and more like myself after an appointment, which I think everyone should experience. There is nothing bad about feeling happier, and I think the world would benefit if everyone had help processing events and emotions.

So, if you are looking for a new form of catharsis, or have been considering therapy, I would say go for it! There is nothing wrong with taking care of yourself, and it is even easier to respect someone who does take care of their mental health. Therapy can be great at some times, and not so great at others, but I think that the majority of people who go to therapy find it a good experience, and certainly worth it. You are worth it, so take the time to take care of yourself, and remember that therapists are only there to help you, which is something that should be appreciated and even encouraged among peers.

What I Watched the Week of August 9th, 2020

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During the last few weeks of July and the beginning of August, my Mom and I have started watching the show Down to Earth together! Due to our schedules, we have only watched three episodes, but we have been recommending the show left and right, so I thought I would write about it!

For those of you that have never heard of Down to Earth, it is a show on Netflix starring Zac Efron and health guru Darin Olien, as they travel the world learning about eco-friendly initiatives. This show is especially good because while it teaches you, it isn’t a boring documentary. Instead, each episode features a new country, and around three innovations are discussed each episode, so we see how that country, or people in that country are handling each issue facing our planet.

This show is great for anyone who likes learning, and anyone who cares about innovation, health, and/or the planet. Darin Olien brings a cool perspective to the show as he is a health guru, and makes a point to educate the viewers on how clean water is different from purified water, or just how good organic vegetables are for you. I personally was interested in more of what Darin had to say, so I bought his book on Amazon, called Superlife, and once I read it I will post a review of it! So far, I have read the sample version on a library app, and I can finally say I understand, dare I say support, the argument against GMO foods. As such, I think the book will bring an interesting perspective on health to my life, and I look forward to reading it as well as continuing with the show!

I cannot wait to see more of what Zac and Darin discover around the world, and the unique ideas that they are finding make me all the more interested in International Studies (which is good because I am majoring in it!) If my professors haven’t seen or heard of the show, I will be sure to recommend it because it is fascinating to see how other countries are tackling the world’s issues. As a United States citizen, I would love to see our country implement some of the same environmental policies, and I think every country should learn from each other to promote healthy lifestyles for people and the planet!

If this sounds like a show you may be interested, please give it a watch, as even if you end up not enjoying it as much as I have, odds are you’ll learn something cool!

Disclaimer: I do not own Down to Earth.

THE EYELASH CURLER: MY ULTIMATE WEAPON

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’nuff said!

Just kidding, but I do mean it when I say that an eyelash curler has a lot of power to it! I started curling my eyelashes in 9th grade, and I immediately got compliments, which have not stopped coming! For one, curled eyelashes make you look more awake, which is always useful. I also love that they make your eyes look so much bigger, and because I think I look nice with curled eyelashes, it helps me radiate more positive energy! When you feel good about yourself, other people can tell, and curled eyelashes do that for me which is why curled eyelashes are my biggest beauty hack.

People also will often ask what mascara I use, and it feels superficially good to say that I’m not wearing any. While makeup is meant to make you feel better/prettier, I especially like curled eyelashes because it is a very natural sort of makeup. There is nothing wrong with fake lashes or mascara, however, I personally like the simplicity of curled lashes, as I prefer the natural look on a day to day basis. Additionally, not that I make it a point to cry in public, but if I do, it is nice to know that once I stop, I will not have mascara on my cheeks. It is also easy to touch up curled lashes, and I carry around an eyelash curler just in case mine deflate.

The addition of masks to our daily wardrobes has unfortunately made eyelash curling a little more tricky, as masks direct air in such a way that curled eyelashes tend to deflate quickly. As a result, I will either have to try mascara or accept the uncurled look, but either way, my eyelash curler is still my favorite piece of makeup!

Just a piece of advice – if your eyelashes have a hard time holding a curl, it may be beneficial to hold the curler for a longer time, so the crimp actually stays!

MY CONSIGNMENT SHOP INTERNSHIP

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Hey everyone! As I mentioned in a What I Listened To the other week, I recently got an internship at a pop-up consignment shop near me. You see, I really like thrifting and consignment shopping, so my Mom knew to send me an article about the pop-up shop (called Ari’s Closet) coming to us. That day I was feeling very inspired by my Hamilton music, so I actually decided to email the women who owned the business and ask her if she had any job openings or would like an intern.

Before sending my email, I googled the woman (which is a good business practice), I tweaked my resume to keep it updated, and I created a business email address, because my usual personal email was getting a bit crowded. I then ran everything over with my Mom, and made sure that I would be able to work, and that my email and resume were acceptable. I have attached the email I sent (with a few fill in the blanks), just in case you ever do something similar!

The woman responded to me that day saying that she was interested in talking to me on the phone either that day or the next day. Of course I immediately freaked out and did some more googling, as well as brainstorming what she could possibly ask me. She ended up not calling until the day after, so I had a little more time to prepare myself. The conversation was pretty simple, and while she told me her insurance only covered her working in the store, she would check about an intern. As I was over the age of 18, the insurance was fine, so I sent her my availability before the store opened and told her that I was available every day except for one once the store was up and running.

I ended up going in Friday, the day before the store was set to open, and I met my new boss at the store space where I put tags on almost every item that was to be put out initially. We also dressed the mannequins which was a lot of fun, and I hung everything up and started to write prices on the tags before going home. That day I worked for five and a half hours, and my boss and I chatted and got to know each other.

The next day I went in an hour before the store opened and stayed for five hours. I continued to tag, price, and hang pieces, with some added steaming and spraying thrown in there too. When business was slow in the beginning, I suggesting having someone model, so they could post on their Instagram and attract business. Because we had wanted someone to model right then, my boss suggested I do it, and she then put the photos on her Instagram for people to see and purchase from there! The day was a lot of fun, and I was really enjoying watching the brand unfold.

I ended up not working on Sunday because the store wasn’t busy and I was going to go in later, but I went in Monday, which was more of the same, except this time my boss bought me cookies when she went to get her lunch, which was super nice. I also dropped off packages at the post office on my way home, as the store was in person and on Poshmark.

I wasn’t available Tuesday, so the next day I went in was Wednesday, where I did a Staples run before work for the store. I also went to Barnes and Nobles (which was very close to the store) to buy a notepad for my boss, and did some more package drop off after work. My boss bought me lunch that day which was so nice as well, although it was interesting to get everything into the car upon leaving – the packages were very big and I had my leftover avocado toast and cherry steamer to worry about too! Thursday was a bit more exciting because I had asked my friend who was interested in becoming a model if she wanted to come model for the store, so she came in which made work extra fun. Lastly, that day I built accessory stands, so I can now say I am proficient at IKEA furniture building!

Friday I did another Staples run, and my model friend came to the store again. Before she came I made another accessories rack and sorted a lot of clothing in the back, which hopefully made things easier for my boss once I was no longer there. You see, the store had extended for an extra week, and I was going to be away that week, so my boss wouldn’t have an extra set of hands. I had actually tried to get a replacement, but eventually my boss said she didn’t want anyone but me which was very sweet. My friend came later in the day and did some more modeling, and I did a little too! We then left together as we were having a night out on the town, which was related to the store because my friend had actually bought two dresses from Ari’s Closet, and she wore one that night!

The following day was my last day, so I did some more back-room organizing, and some final tagging before saying goodbye. It was sad to go, but it was a great experience, and I learned a lot about running a business! I learned about renting a space, modern cash registers, how to do payouts, and how to control inventory and buy supplies while staying in the green.

You may ask, Leann, how on earth did you fare inside a consignment shop without buying everything? Well, I will say that my boss gave me one item for free, so long as it wasn’t crazy expensive, and I bought two other items with a 20% discount. There were a bunch of really nice things that I liked like an adorable Les Copains sweater with tennis players on it, but I didn’t want to pay over $200 for it, so I decided to not buy it. I hope it finds a good home though! If not, maybe I will splurge…

Anyway, while I was away the next week, my boss texted me and asked if I would be willing to tag some more items from my house or hers when I got back. I gladly accepted and tagged two giant bags full of clothes, however this time, I got to decide on the prices myself, which was interesting. My boss had said everything in the bags would be between five and twenty dollars, so that was a good guideline, but there were a lot of factors to consider, like brand, condition, fabric, attractiveness, and what I would pay for it. I texted my boss for a few items, including a Michael Kors wallet that was clearly in the wrong bag, but overall I think that went well. I dropped the clothes back off, and that has been the end of my internship! A few days after that, my boss did text me again and asked if I could do some Poshmark uploads, but I wasn’t going to be around, so I politely declined.

In all, it was a great experience, and it is nice to know that if I ever need a good recommendation letter, that my boss would be willing to write one. Additionally, my boss ended up paying me a stipend which was very nice given that I worked about 30 hours for her! Lastly, I have worn the dress I bought no less than three times in the last month, so I am especially grateful for that outcome of the internship! I give my thanks to my boss for being willing to ‘hire’ a random college student, and for being a great boss, and I think my interning worked out well for both of us! The whole experience showed me what you can achieve with a little bravery, as putting yourself out there isn’t always the easiest, but I am so very glad that I did!

If you are interested in following or shopping at the store, the Instagram is @arielle.hallersilverstone, and my boss gives updates on items and location from there.

Here is the email I sent too: Internship Email – good luck if you decide to reach out to someone in a similar fashion!

WHAT’S IN MY WALLET

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For anyone that knows me, they know that I always carry around a small pouch in addition to my phone, just in case. That just in case is for small issues, like needing an allergy pill, a USB cord, or a pair of scissors, as it is always good to be prepared. It is important to note however, that my wallet is more of a zippered pouch or large coin purse, with dimensions of about 3″ tall by 4″ long x 2″ wide/deep. There is a lot of room for bills, cards and small items like chapstick, which is perfect for me!

Before I get into what’s in my wallet, I want to address what’s attached to my wallet. Clipped to the zipper is a wristlet extension, my quick-scan library card, my gym membership card, my keys, and a metal straw. Now, what I have inside:

1.) Credit card and debit card

2.) Student ID

3.) Driver’s licence

4.) $47 dollars in cash

5.) A mini book of matches

6.) 2 bandaids

7.) 2 chaptsticks (Lipsmackers strawberry banana and Blistex with sunscreen)

8.) 2 tampons

9.) A small container for pills (ibuprofen, benadryl and allergy pills)

10.) A small container for tic-tacs (a full tic-tac container is too large and is unnecessary so I use a contact case for the left contact)

11.) A USB-C cord (without the outlet box)

12.) 2 mini perfumes (Michael Kors White and Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue)

13.) A lighter (I don’t smoke but it has come in handy for birthday candles!)

14.) A mini swiss army knife

15.) Foldable scissors

16.) A small binder clip

17.) 2 paper clips

18.) A safety pin

19.) A metal thing you use to take out your SIM card

20.) Spare change

30.) A mini sewing kit

31.) One of my high school ID’s

32.) A medical info card (for emergencies)

33.) A copy of my health insurance card

34.) A punch card from a consignment shop

35.) My Student Advantage card

36.) My AAA card

37.) A business card from a potential employer

38.) My library card

39.) My Charlie card

40.) An alcohol poisoning awareness card

41.) 2 hair ties

While that sounds like a lot of stuff to carry around, and while some things I rarely use, I love knowing that I’m well equipped to handle small annoyances. Now wait until you hear what’s in my purse…

WHAT’S IN MY BEACH BAG + WHAT I BRING TO THE BEACH

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Aloha! Or as the Massachusetts folk say, hi! Currently, I am on vacation with my family at the beach in Massachusetts, and I wanted to write something! I had planned on doing a what’s in my wallet piece, but it’s a bit windy on the beach, so I figured that wasn’t the best idea. But… going through my beach bag and what I have at the beach probably wouldn’t end disastrously!

So, to start off with what’s in my beach bag, my beach bag itself is one of those giant tote bags that you get when you spend a certain amount of money at Victoria’s Secret. Inside one of those I have:

1.) A towel

2.) Sunscreen

3.) My phone

4.) My wallet

5.) A mask

6.) A water bottle

7.) A tee-shirt (as a cover-up)

8 .) Two pairs of sunglasses in a case (I was trying not to wear them so I wouldn’t get more of a sunglasses tan line!)

The above items are pretty understandable, and since I am with my family and we have food in a separate bag, the only other things in my beach bag are entertainment related. I have:

9.) My Nook (first edition, has a bunch of middle school aged books on it)

10.) The first two Harry Potter books (I have the 3rd on my phone from the library)

11.) A journal (and a pen, obviously)

12.) Wireless earbuds

13.) A laptop

Personally, I’m a bit nervous about having a laptop at the beach, but it isn’t that hot out, so I don’t think I’ll accidentally fry it. Hopefully! Edit from home – the laptop is fine!

Other than that and food, the only other items I have that are not in my beach bag are my smartwatch – a Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2, – a beach chair, and a sort of beach bedroll with a pillow attachment.

To discuss food, my family has a fabric cooler that we keep lunch and snacks in, so in there I have a bottle of water, a bottle of vitamin water, raspberries, a baggie of white cheddar popcorners, a baggie of wheat thins (original flavor), a container of baby spinach leaves (uncooked), and a lemon slice (to put on the spinach leaves). My mom also put a granola bar in there for me, but I told her beforehand that I wasn’t going to eat it, yet she insisted on keeping it in there! Oh well, joke’s on me because I had to carry it to the beach! But my sister had to carry it back so really, the granola bar should be taken out, as it is making life difficult for everyone except my mom. The irony.

Anyway, that’s what I brought to the beach, including flip flops and a bathing suit of course!

On that note, happy 100th anniversary of women getting the right to vote, and Ciao! Or a the Massachusetts folk say, bye!

What I Listened to the Week of July 25th, 2020

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My playlist for this week was the playlist I listened to at my consignment shop internship. At work, my boss put on a Pandora radio station with alternative vibes, and at the beginning, I only knew one song. However, after seven days of the same songs, I really liked a lot of them, and tried to track them all down! This involved testing the Sam Feldt Radio station on Pandora (my boss’s playlist was one of his songs, I just didn’t know which one), taking pictures of the currently playing song on the iPad, and typing the lyrics I could make out into the memo app on my watch. This is the list I came up with:

P.S. I included the Spotify link to the whole playlist at the end of the list too!

1.) Roses by SAINt JHN (Imanbek Remix)

2.) Carry Me by Kygo (ft. Julia Michaels)

3.) Dancing On My Own by Calum Scott

4.) Stargazing by Kygo (ft. Justin Jesso)

5.) Post Malone by Sam Feldt (ft. RANI)

6.) Save Tonight by Sam Feldt (Redondo Remix)

7.) More Than You Know by Axwell ^ Ingrosso

8.) Tie Me Down by Gryffin with Elley Duhé

9.) Yes by Sam Feldt (ft. Akon)

10.) Freedom by Kygo (ft. Zac Abel)

11.) Stranger Things by Kygo (ft. OneRepublic)

12.) Exodus by Sam Feldt (ft. Otis Parker & Garrison Starr)

13.) Alive (The Edge) by Sam Feldt (ft. ROOKIES)

14.) Scared To Be Lonely by Dua Lipa & Martin Garrix

15.) Carry Me Home by Sam Feldt (ft. Sam Martin)

16.) So Close by NOTD & Felix Jaehn (ft. Georgia Ku & Captain Cuts)

17.) Raging by Kygo (ft. Kodaline)

18.) Something Strange by Vicetone (ft. Haley Reinhart)

19.) Firestone by Kygo (ft. Conrad Sewell)

20.) Blackbird by Sam Feldt (ft. Jake Reese)

21.) We Don’t Walk We Fly by Sam Feldt (ft. Bright Sparks)

22.) High and Low by Sam Feldt (ft. Joshua Radin)

23.) Leave Me Alone by Sam Feldt (ft. George Shelley)

24.) Capsize by Frenship & Emily Warren

25.) Show Me Love by Sam Feldt (ft. Kimberly Anne)

26.) Sensational by Sam Feldt

27.) Wishing Well by Sam Feldt (ft. Olivia Sebastianelli)

28.) Stole The Show by Kygo (ft. Parson James)

29.) I’ll Be Back by Sam Feldt (ft. ROOKIES)

30.) Closure by Sam Feldt (ft. Valerie Broussard)

31.) Start Again by Sam Feldt

32.) Higher Love by Kygo (ft. Whitney Houston)

33.) Chase You Down by RUNAGROUND

34.) Head & Heart by Joel Corry x MNEK

Here is the playlist on Spotify as well:

Disclaimer: I don’t own any of these songs.

What I Listened to the Week of July 19th, 2020

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I will admit, I listened to two songs on repeat this entire week, and I didn’t even listen to the full songs. These two songs are 1.) Alexander Hamilton, and 2.) My Shot, both from the Hamilton Soundtrack. I listened to the first minute and 19 seconds of Alexander Hamilton, and the first minute and 14 seconds of My Shot.

When Hamilton the musical first became famous and the music was posted online, many people would listen to the entire soundtrack again and again, but I was not one of them. I was lucky enough to get to see the show in the spring of my freshman year of high school, so I thought that since I was going to go see it, I didn’t need to listen to the music in advance. When we saw the show, it was great, but I didn’t become obsessed with it. Come Disney Plus’s release of the show, I watched it again, and this time, I could actually see everyone’s faces (I had forgotten my glasses when we saw it on Broadway), and this time I realized how good it was, and saw how inspirational Alexander Hamilton was. I decided I wanted to learn the beginning of the show, as I kept seeing ads of it, so I started learning the opening to Alexander Hamilton the song. Then, after watching a clip of Lin Manuel-Miranda rapping part of My Shot on youtube, I decided I had to learn that too. Now, I am proud to say I have learned both parts and done my best to imitate the actual speech patterns of the respective singers.

In my time learning the songs, I realized that Mr. Hamilton was indeed a hard worker and a self-starter, and I decided to be one too. The songs motivated me to reach out to a small business owner in my town to see if I would get a job or internship, and it actually worked. Now, as I start my website/blog and do my internship, I am reminded to keep grinding, as Hamilton plays in my head (or out loud) constantly!

I will say, the writers of Hamilton are genius’s, simply put, and now I can say I am Hamilton obsessed too, just like the rest of the world. So, if you are in need of some motivation or a rap to learn, I highly recommend these songs, as I will probably be listening to them on repeat for the coming weeks as well.

Now, for that apology to my family for my incessant noise…

WHAT TO REMEMBER TO BRING TO COLLEGE WHEN YOU’RE IN A SUITE

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Congratulations, you made it through room selection! But now the school year is approaching, and you don’t know whether or not you should bring a full-size vacuum, who is responsible for the Keurig, or if you should bring your whole mug collection. Worry not, with this guide on how to manage moving into a suite, you will get a list of things you may or may not need, as well as a downloadable spreadsheet to help you and your friends figure out who is doing what, a shopping list for those items you may need to restock every once in a while, and a chore chart template!

1.) Brita and Brita Filters

Some people find that at college the water is not to their liking. While all schools follow strict guidelines for their tap water, you may find it useful to purchase a Brita. A Brita is a portable water filtering pitcher that is easy to use, and it is also easy to change the filter, which you should do every once in a while. While I personally don’t mind drinking the tap water, I do have friends that swear by their Brita’s, so it’s up to you if that’s something you want to bring!

2.) Coffee pot/Keurig/Tea Kettle

Depending on your dorm set-up you may have a stove or may be reliant on electric appliances. Whatever the case, make sure you have the equipment you need to stay hydrated (read: caffeinated). For those of you like myself, that do not have a stove but are avid tea drinkers, I would recommend getting an electric tea kettle! You can find a relatively inexpensive one (under $20) with retailers like Target and Amazon. Not to mention, you could also make simple soups with boiled water! One final note is that no matter which appliance you have, make sure everyone in your room knows how to use it and clean it. I would recommend a ‘you use you clean’ policy for anything like this, including dishes!

3.) Trash Cans

Easy to overlook, trash cans for the common space/kitchen and bathrooms are a must! It would be so annoying to have to go to your bedroom every time you needed to throw something out, so make sure someone brings a trashcan (and trash bags!) I would recommend putting the trashcans on a chore chart, just so nothing is sitting there for too long, especially if food is being thrown out!

4.) Microwave/Fridge

Some schools offer a rental program for microwaves and mini-fridges, but sometimes people prefer to bring their own. Because these are likely to be shared, unless someone had one from a previous year or had one passed down, I would recommend splitting the cost. It is also important to share cleaning of both, because no one wants someone else’s expired food taking up room! This is definitely something for the chore chart!

5.) Dish stuff

Yay, you finally have a sink in your room to wash your dishes! But wait, what dishes will I have?! As dishes are something that you may want to share or keep separate, this is very important to discuss with everyone. Make sure to remember silverware and cups or mugs too! It may be helpful to have one person bring all the plates and silverware, while everyone individually brings mugs – just figure out what works for you, and likewise figure out if everyone will clean their own dishes or if it will be a chore for one person. It is also important to remember a drying rack, dish soap, and a sponge or brush to help you scrub, so make sure to coordinate that as well!

6.) Hand Soap and Hand Sanitizer

This one is pretty simple! I would recommend hand soap at each sink (including the kitchen sink), and to have a large communal bottle of hand sanitizer in the common room so that it is available to everyone, including visitors! Just remember to restock as needed.

7.) Couch covers

Couch covers are a great idea for a communal space because they are easy to clean! They keep the furniture safe, and can simply be washed in a washing machine when dirty, which is something that cannot be said for a couch cushion. Basic couch covers can go for under $20, so they are pretty budget friendly, especially if everyone chips in!

8.) Bath Mats

Unless you are planning on wearing flip-flops in the shower, a bath mat is something that your bathroom needs! This is an easy one because anyone can bring a bath mat, and if it needs cleaning, it can just be thrown in with the next person washing their sheets! I would recommend each bathroom having two bathmats, in case one is in the laundry when someone needs to shower. It is a simple rotation, and the clean one can be hung in the bathroom or folded on the back of the toilet until it is needed!

9.) Vacuum(s)

Freshman year, my roommate and I had a small hand-held vacuum and kept our floor clean with that, but in a suite (mine will have 8 people), it may be more realistic to get a full sized vacuum. This is something to discuss with your roommates, so one person isn’t responsible for buying the vacuum and microwave, while someone else is solely responsible for stocking up on dish soap. If someone has an extra vacuum in their house, great, but if not, this might be one to split the cost of. It also makes sense for someone to bring a handheld vacuum too though, just in case you spill crumbs on the couch or your bed!

10.) Iron (and ironing board) or Steamer

For those of us that do not like walking around in wrinkled clothing, an iron or steamer could be a lifesaver. Both electric irons and portable steamers sell for under $20, and both are user friendly! I would consider whether you’d have an an ironing board or open space to lay an item on (for ironing) versus just holding a hanger up (for a steamer). Personally, I prefer a steamer, but to each their own!

11.) Toilet Paper and Paper Towels

Simple enough, but a word of advice – ALWAYS have extra. You do NOT want to run out of toilet paper, so I would recommend always putting it on your shopping list, so it become a habit to think about before going to the grocery store or campus mini-mart.

12.) Cleaning supplies

This is a rather long list, but it includes sanitizing (Lysol/Clorox) wipes, a toilet brush, sponges, and bleach or a cleaning spray for the sink, toilet, and shower. Some of this stuff can be shared if your room has multiple bathrooms, but make sure to coordinate who is bringing what, and make sure to restock every once in a while! Also, MAKE SURE to keep the toilet sponge separate from the sink and shower sponges! I would recommend color coordinating!

13.) Coat hooks

One great part about a suite or apartment is that there is a coat closet, but it may also be useful to hang coat hooks near the door, so your main winter coat is always easy to access. Personally I keep my giant coat on a hook, while I’ll keep my lighter coats in my own room or in the coat closet, just so I won’t have to rifle through six other black coats in a dark closet while making sure to not knock over the vacuum when I’m running late!

14.) TV or Projector

While a TV is more of a luxury item, if you plan on having friends over or planning movie nights, it may be a must. This is definitely something to check in with your roommates about, so that everyone can chip in if needed. A great alternative is a projector, so if you usually stream, you don’t have to worry about connecting to a TV provider. It is also useful because no one wants someone knocking their TV over by accident, and a projector may be easier to put away when not in use.

In case you want to stay extra-organized, here is my spreadsheet template to help with who’s bringing what. Just share it with everyone and have them fill out their name. Delete what you don’t want, add more rows if necessary, and make sure each bathroom has everything it needs! I also included the beginning of a shopping list so you would remember to restock, as well as a chore chart example and template to help you and your roommates stay organized. The chore chart is set for 8 people automatically, but just make a copy and then adjust to your number of roommates and your room’s necessary chores as needed!

Packing/Organizing Spreadsheet

Restock Shopping List

Chore Chart Example

Chore Chart Template