<p>Runnersmom, (late start date) we get our dorm stuff on sale!</p>
<p>Acme, are you sure you need extra long where your son is going?</p>
<p>Well, BB&B carries those stretchy beech or t-shirt material sheets in Twin XL in many colors and that’s pretty much what we bought. All 3 of my kids (2 boys, 1 girl) opted for comforters and duvet covers. That way the covers could be washed (theoretically!), or discarded when they became too gnarly. All 3 times I bought 2 sets of sheets. Eldest S washed, though infrequently and used both sets. D washes more regularly and uses both sets. Middle S seems to use one set all year (don’t even ask about washing) and discards at year end!
Cottonwood…absolutely, sales all the way! And the stuff they had run out of by the end of August they had restocked by mid-September.</p>
<p>cottonwood, I just assumed since we got this brochure from his college that his sheets needed to be xtra longs. I guess I could call up o find out for sure. Knowing him, I doubt they will be washed during freshman year-- but one can always hope…!</p>
<p>“brochure from college” The college made money selling the list.</p>
<p>Don’t fall for that. If you need regular twin sheets, you have a much
bigger selection. </p>
<p>I can’t even remember if he took flannel sheets besides the regular ones.</p>
<p>I think that most college beds are XL twins these days, although there are a few exceptions. There are XL sheets/comforters/mattress covers at JCPenney, Macy’s, BedBath&Beyond, LinensNThings and lots more places. When checking out the online sites, when you get to bedding, do a search for XL or XL sheets.</p>
<p>I found beautiful sheets on deep discount at Macy’s for my D 3 years ago. I almost never shop at Macy’s – too expensive for me – but these sheets were a great deal.</p>
<p>Got the XLs for my S from JCPenney online a couple of weeks ago - solids, stripes and prints to choose from. They are on sale now and will be for a bit longer.</p>
<p>Those T-shirt sheets are the best…can be found at BB&B or Linens & Things among other places. They go on sale for about $20 at some point in the summer…and don’t forget the coupons that never expire. I also strongly recommend getting an eggshell or other kind of mattress topper.</p>
<p>It was so easy last year with D1 instate and only 3 hours away by car. D2 will be OOS and 3 hours away by plane. We’re going to fly and have things shipped there, but will probably just wait until we get there to buy the bulky things. Have any of the rest of you done that? I already rented an SUV there for some major hunting and gathering.</p>
<p>My next vigil starts Thursday, when both of my girls leave for Israel. Happily, a week after they go, H & I follow!</p>
<p>2forcollege there are other discussion of this but BB&B has a system to select what you want at your store and then have it held for you at the store near school. You use the gift registry “gun” to make your selections. You check out at the school store though so you aren’t committed to anything but you do not pay shipping, can use the coupons, and change your mind if you want. Really great system.</p>
<p>We used the BB & B system last year and it worked out really well. Another advantage is that though they had pulled all the items she had “registered” for and they were waiting for us in Chicago (we went to the store in Lincoln Park), she was able to change things out and pick others to replace them. The system worked really well for us. She actually bought most things there except the duvet cover…what can I say! She shopped, and shopped and shopped for the “perfect” cover. Finally found it on sale at Macy’s!</p>
<p>Are we done with waitlists this year?</p>
<p>D never did hear anything from U Chicago, whether or not she was still on the extended list or released from it. Thankfully, she’s really happy with how things are working out at U Michigan…guess we’ll let sleeping dogs lie.</p>
<p>If you didn’t hear, she must still be on it.</p>
<p>haven’t been posting in a bit…lots of worklife changes, kid summer stuff, etc. well in a lovely hotel in Savannah Ga—started our family roadtrip to visit where my s will start in fall—washington and lee, can’t wait to find the cabin in the mountain we’ve chosen.(we live in flat florida and miss the beauty of mountains) started our trip at Flagler College as my d is interested in going there…shes a senior …kind of fun they are both starting/ending the college search process together–yr apart in school…hoping to enjoy one of those last family roadtrips. yankees are tied and just want to say thanks to all my cc friends for helping me thru the fun, turbulent year for my 08 grad and preparing for my 09 grad. fortunately I have a very funny, loveable and bright 12 yr old who will continue to provide new teenage angst material. hope all are doing well…</p>
<p>How are everyone else’s “last summer before college” going? If I remember correctly it can be a trying time…at least it was in our household at certain times. Helping them bridge that gap between dependence and independence without either party strangling the other can indeed be tough. I do remember how much fun it was to go shopping, even with my “who cares” sons! Amazing how picky they could become when deciding on a duvet cover…but wouldn’t you know they both thought that one bath towel would be more than enough. Like laundry would be done that often. I won that argument and convinced them both that the minimum I would agree to was 2…and yes, a couple of hand towels were a good idea! Our summer has actually been flying by. The traveling boy is in the homestretch, arriving in Amsterdam tomorrow for his last 5 days, then flying home on Tuesday the 22nd. I can’t believe he left May 11th…where has the time gone. But since my D doesn’t start school until September 29, I will have kids in the house for another 2 months. Not a bad thing…not a bad thing at all! </p>
<p>To all of you whose children are leaving home for the first time in the next month or so, enjoy your time with them. Remember that even if they don’t express it directly they may be nervous, anxious, excited and apprehensive and any possible combination thereof. And in these days of 24/7 communication, you’ll never be further that a phone call or IM away! Whether they want you to be or not!!!</p>
<p>In 34 days we hit the road for our 10 hour trip to what D thinks will be college nirvana! She still hasn’t gotten her roommate or dorm assignment (that should happen this week) so we haven’t done THE BIG SHOP, but we’re gearing up. I have my stack of BBB coupons at the ready. We flew with S to his school 5 years ago, but she wants us to drive and we’re fine with that. We’ve planned a lovely trip on the way home to distract ourselves–but still . . . She’s our second and last. My coping mechanism is that I am and will remain mired in the administrative and logistical details of shopping, moving, organizing, etc. until the school kicks us out on the afternoon of move-in day. There will be a big empty space in our house and our lives.</p>
<p>My son is thoroughly enjoying his summer. He’s got sort of a split approach to leaving for school. He is excited about it in the abstract, but doesn’t want to do any of the buying stuff, talking to people about what day he leaves, etc. I think he wants to put all that off for as long as possible and then have it happen as quickly as possible so he won’t have time to get nervous about it all. He’s been working on his summer reading and is looking forward to classes. His roommates seem like a nice bunch of guys.</p>
<p>Editing to add, as far as moving there goes, I’m just putting him on the plane. 
He will take one suitcase to check and one carry-on and we will have some stuff sent directly to the school. As part of his pre-orientation program they will have a chance to go shopping so we’re going to put together a list of things to buy then.</p>
<p>I have a question for all you experienced parents. He will have to take his laundry to the basement of another building. What has worked the best for your kids so far as hampers, hauling laundry, etc. ?</p>
<p>D1 and her friends have the collapsable laundry hamper. We got it at IKEA. She loves it because it is lightweight and easy to carry with a lid that velcros shut. It was also very inexpensive and will be used for a third year.</p>
<p>I went to the IKEA website and looked for ones with velcro. Is this the kind you mean, NorthMinnesota? [IKEA</a> | Clothes storage systems | ANTONIUS system | ANTONIUS | Laundry bag with stand](<a href=“Products - IKEA”>Products - IKEA)</p>
<p>S just landed, en route to a Yellow Pig reunion. He was kind enough to call as soon as he landed – so there’s an improvement! He is quite comfortable with these little trips, and it’s good practice for me. He leaves with DH on 9/17, as they are driving out a little early. I’ll meet them there after I send S2 off to school that Friday. Move in/convocation is Saturday.</p>
<p>Am eyeing his room and wondering if he’d notice if I removed the trash bag and got rid of some old clothes while he’s gone!</p>
<p>Yellow Pig? Sounds like a distant relative of the purple cow. After googling, I’ve figured out its a math camp thing but still kinda like the barnyard image. I bet he won’t notice a thing if you do a bit of room purging.</p>
<p>2blue, have had 3 S’s and I don’t think any of them would have fooled around with the stand part of that one. Mine used pop ups.
BB & B have a number that would work well for S’s.<br>
[Bed</a> Bath & Beyond Product Styles](<a href=“Bed Bath & Beyond | The Best Deals Online: Furniture, Bedding, Rugs, Kitchen Essentials & Moree”>Bed Bath & Beyond | The Best Deals Online: Furniture, Bedding, Rugs, Kitchen Essentials & Moree)</p>
<p>The backpack one looks interesting.</p>
<p>BTW - these were a really big hit with DD since she did not have to deal with jug of liquid.
[Amazon.com:</a> laundry dropps - Home & Garden: Home & Garden](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_hg/105-9285066-2931600?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=laundry+dropps&tag=themusic_0301_324028-20]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_hg/105-9285066-2931600?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=laundry+dropps&tag=themusic_0301_324028-20)</p>