things i love // off to college

When my oldest was about 7, my husband told him casually that it was move-in day at the University. He reminisced about the day his own parents left him at his freshman dorm and said goodbye, leaving him to experience college on his own. When I went to tuck my little in that night he crumbled and SOBBED and told me in no uncertain terms that he DID NOT want to go to college. It sparked some serious anxiety in him about a ritual that wouldn’t come for another decade. I’m only sending him off to Middle School now, but the thought of dropping him at his freshman dorm already makes ME want to sob. Sending our children off to learn independence and test out their fortitude Is such a special rite of passage. And with a little forethought you can send them armed with a few things that might make the transition a bit easier or at least prettier and more fun, which totally counts for something, right? Good luck fierce freshman [and their sobbing parents], you got this. xo

> Hey! Just a heads up that this post includes affiliate links, but rest assured that I stand by all product recommendations 100%. Questions? Reach out, I’m always here for you.

There’s nothing more important than the safety of your undergrad. With all of the terrifying statistics out there, you’ll both rest easier knowing that your ‘baby’ is armed with Birdie, a personal alarm that unleashes a deafening 130 db sound and bright flashing strobe light when activated. It was designed by two moms of new college students to scare off attackers and attract attention, but Birdie is also excellent for anyone you love who might be out and about anywhere a little added safety measure would be prudent. And Birdie is designed to be super cute, compact and lightweight so it can be easily stashed on a keychain, water bottle, belt loop or bag while they’re out on campus, on trails, in the city or wherever they roam. There are 12 fresh, fun colors to choose from and for every purchase Birdie donates 5% of proceeds to a variety of organizations that support women’s safety, shelter or health.
// BIRDIE PERSONAL SAFETY ALARM $29.95 // Use code AFLUTTER10 at checkout to save 10%

Last I checked freshman dorm rooms were pretty, um, ‘compact.’ You can save some coveted space by sending your frosh with a few super cool + slender Nomadix quick-dry towels instead of thick, plush, space-eating ones. They come in a bunch of really cool prints, including National Parks and Island-inspired. They even have hand towels, too. Plus, because they’re quick-dry, they won’t develop the nasty stank of a terry towel that got thrown in a corner and forgotten about for days [I’m sure your kid would never do that though, right?]. I have an Agua Blue one and I love it. I’ve brought it on a river trip, to the pool and to a music festival and have been thrilled every time with its performance. It dries really quickly and is super soft despite [or because?!] being made entirely from recycled plastic bottles. They’re also part of 1% for the Planet, so that’s a win-win for me [and the planet, of course].
// NOMADIX TOWELS from $19.95 //

You can’t play nurse to your sick or bleeding teen from hundreds of miles away, but you might *feel better* knowing that your fledgling adult has all of the tools they need to take care of themselves when they’re a little under the weather or crash their bike into a stump [or are just a bit *off* for other reasons]. Arm them with a first aid kit that houses the basics so they can focus on what really matters instead of trying to track down a few ibuprofen or a bandaid. Letterfolk has a super cute compact tin that’s roomy enough for the essentials, but wee enough to be easily stashed. And by filling it up yourself, you get to decide which items make most sense so you’re not stuck with sterilized gauze when you really need Pepto. Now don’t you feel better already?
// LETTERFOLK FIRST AID TIN $27 //

Keep those brilliant expanding brains well nourished with a monthly delivery of healthy snacks. There are a bunch of options for snack subscriptions, but TasteCrate will send your student a fairly giant selection of unique snacks that you may not have seen before, which is pretty fun. You can set it up to ship once or monthly all year long. If your frosh has dietary restrictions, SnackSack offers boxes that are GF, Vegan or both. And if you just want to blow their mind with a little something super special, Candy Club will deliver a bright, fun, sweet sugar party in a box once or monthly. Now, you already know that I’m a big fan of subscription gifts. They’re so easy to set up and then they just keep *delivering* the goods, so your people continue to feel super special over and over again with almost no effort on your part. Whichever box option you choose, your young adult will feel like a little kid again when their special care package arrives.
// TASTECRATE SNACK SUBSCRIPTION $39.99 //

There’s just not space in a dorm room or studio apartment for a hefty collection of picture frames to lovingly display the beautiful faces of everyone you love. So, help your undergrad feel connected to friends and family with a Nixplay Smart Digital Picture Frame. It’s compact enough to fit almost anywhere, including on the wall, and can be easily updated with new photos or short videos instantly from anywhere in the world there’s an internet connection. Anyone you invite can share to it, so if your student’s BFF lives in upstate New York, brother lives in San Diego and grandma lives in Paris, they can all upload photos to the frame anytime via email or through the Nixplay app. It’s seriously magical. My sister and I gave one to my parents a few years ago and they are SO delighted when a new photo of their grand babies magically pops up on the frame. It couldn’t be easier to use and is such an awesome way for everyone to stay connected and let your hard-working student know that they’re top of mind. And it’s especially fun on a birthday or holiday to upload a special surprise tribute. The frame comes in a range of finishes, but the basic 10” frame is available in black, white or a wood finish to match just about any decor. It would be a fantastic gift for parents and grandparents, too, so everyone can feel the love.
// NIXPLAY SMART DIGITAL PICTURE FRAME $179 //