College Dorm ILLUSTRATED

Hey guys. Haven't blogged in a while. =) I was actually going to create this blog a long time ago... but I never got around to it. Of course, there are many other more productive things I should be doing right now. So, I'll write a blog. =P (That's the college mentality, for less than driven students.)

Many of you will probably never actually see my dorm room. Let's be honest, it's a dorm. Kinda small, kinda cramped, but kinda my home. =) However, I DO want to share with you some small organization tips and whatnot. (HAHAHA organization tips from Darcy) I know that some of the people who read my blog will be going off to college next year... so here it goes.

That's my desk! Pretty standard. I'll have a few more pictures that are closer up ...

Alright, muy importante shtuff right here.  Every college student needs a desk lamp. It gets dark around here, yo! You can see some of my textbooks, dictionaries, etc. ALSO, an important aspect for girls or all jewelry wearing people: My mesh-y looking butterfly holds all of my earrings conveniently, the elephant's trunk holds all of my rings, and the hemp-looking bag next to that holds all my necklaces. I strongly recommend that anyone who likes to wear jewelry invest in things like these. I don't really recommend the bag... I'm broke and I don't have the money to look for something fancy shmancy for necklaces. Moving right along. =)

Highly recommended: plastic organizer or small plastic baskets to compartmentalize the random goodies that get shoved into the desk drawers.  You can see I have some necessities here: address book, glue, batteries, thumb tacks, stapler (and staples!), calculator, sticky notes, white out, pocket knife, tape, staple remover, flashdrive, and clips. Not pictured here: SCISSORS. Do not forget them. No joke. baha

Yay for kitchenware! Obviously my dishes are limited... Whatcha gonna do? I have the basics. Glasses. Bowls. Silverware (at least two of each). Mug (LOVE THIS). Plastic measuring cup. I love this measuring cup for making sure I have the right amount of water for Ramen noodles and things... very practical. Also, I recommend buying a couple plates. Really you only need about two of each of these. I just don't have plates. *sigh* My life.

FOOD. Very important. Ramen noodles are a must, along with PopTarts and granola bars. The rest are just novelty items but I recommend hot cocoa in individual packets. Swiss Miss is my fave. =) If you're curious, I have ramen noodles, poptarts, hot cocoa, Cooooooooooookie Crisp, TownHouse crackers, Target's generic brand granola bars (not bad, btw), Oreos, and a spicy habanero jelly. Why not?

 SHOWER CADDIES ARE IMPORTANT. baha Go to WalMart or Target or something like that and get a caddy like this with different compartments to hold your toiletries - it makes it way easier in the shower.  I'm pretty sure this was less than five dollars and totally worth it. Also, buy a new pair of cheap flip flops for the shower. Who knows what has been on that floor, mmkay?  Along with that I have pretty standard stuff: shampoo and conditioner, body wash, a loooooofah, facewash, shave gel, a razor, my toothbrush, and toothpaste.  The comb is just hanging out in there. I don't discriminate. =)

I love this plastic tower of drawers. It's important to organize vertically in the dorms whenever possible - saves space.  My top drawer has hair products and my case of nail polish. Middle drawer has various skin products and randomness.  Bottom drawer has shampoo and conditioner along with styling tools: straightener, curling iron, blow dryer... My makeup case rests on this tower.  It's cute, relatively small, and holds everything I need in an organized fashion. Woohoo!  My bookbag is also pictured here... Get a bookbag that you really like - comfortable AND fashionable - because you are going to be spending a lot of time with this bad boy.  Also, when you look like crap, you still have a little something to show for yourself if you have a cute backpack. =)

Aha! GO GREEN. This is my plastic bag of plastic bags, hung on the ladder for my loft. You use plastic bags for everything, and they make easy and cheap trash bags.

Invest in hooks of any kind! Remember the vertical organization idea? Applies here. I use these two little hooks to hang up my robe, my purse, my keys... whatever. VERY handy.

So, all pictures up to this point were taken when my room was still clean and relatively un-Darcified. Hence the lighting change and whatnot.  THIS is my little cleaning station.  More vertical organization, you'll notice.  These are two milk crates stacked on top of one another to create makeshift shelves.  Top shelf: Pledge, antibacterial wipes (I'm always wiping down doorknobs and lightswitches and such), sponge, dish soap, paper towels, Kleenex, dish cloths.  Bottom shelf (harder to see): Tide laundry detergent, Clorox stain remover and Febreze in the back, Oxi-Clean, dryer sheets, Shout Color Catcher sheets (do loads of different colors all in one without fear!), and a mini laundry bag (used for protecting delicates, especially dainty undergarments, in the harsh machines at college).

SIDE NOTE: These water bottles are FANTASTIC. Some of you high society folks probably found these a long time ago, and I had seen them for a while... but I never realized how glorious they were until I had my own. The top flips up and acts as a straw, which is aaaawesome... I've never drank more water in my life.  I think originally it cost me somewhere between $12-$15... Definitely worth it.  It's much cheaper in the long run to buy this water bottle and fill up at drinking fountains than to be perpetually buying and throwing away disposable water bottles - much more green too!

So... I suppose that lets you peek into my life here at college just a bit. =) Does anyone read my blog to check in on me or do they just like reading it because I'm a bit quirky? baha. If anyone appreciates the illustrated 'diary' of my life, I might post more blogs like these... They're easier for me to crank out when I'm busy... Let me know.

ALSO, tell me. If you're still in high school and planning on going to college, what are you most worried or curious about? And if you are/have been in college, I need to hear some awesome stories.

I missed this. BYYYYYYYYYYYYE. <3