Tag Archives: back to college

Back to the Dorms: Your 2020 College Checklist

It’s time to start sending your college students back to school. Whereas in most cases students will be returning to campus to restart their education, the college experience overall will be anything but normal. Despite uncertainties about campus life, one thing is sure; everything from classes to social events will be different and your student will have to make the necessary adjustments.

Their living space will be more important than ever before and you want to make it not only comfortable but also practical. To help you plan ahead, we’ve compiled a sort of “go-to checklist” of essentials you should be sending your student back to school with so they can be successful, and adjust to a hybrid academic year.

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Workspace and Supplies: Virtual classes are almost certain to be at least a portion of student learning this year. If the dorm room or apartment your child is living in doesn’t have a desk, you’ll want to make sure that bring one along. And because they will be spending more time than usual at this workspace, a comfortable and ergo-friendly chair will be necessary too. In addition to the furniture, supplies like a desk organizer, post-it notes, pens, a desk lamp, a power strip, and extra batteries are essential to a productive works space. Don’t forget a pair of noise-canceling headphones so they can focus on their studies without interruption.

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Kitchen and Cooking: Dining halls and local eating establishments will have capacity limits and can get crowded during mealtime, so your student will likely be making their own meals much more often. Although you will want to find out what the school allows, most will permit a microwave, a small fridge, a coffee maker, and even a single burner cooktop. Believe it or not, you can do a lot with just a microwave! Make sure they have the right cooking components (utensils, microwave-safe plates/bowls, and pots and pans) to create their culinary delights with as well.

Dorm Kitchen (1)

Sleep and Study Space: As we all know, dorm rooms are far from spacious. With libraries either closed or limiting occupancy, the bed in the room may now also double as a study space. A nice bedding set including a plush mattress topper with a throw blanket will cover the comfort part, but also consider a lap desk, an overhead light, and backrest pillow to make study time most productive.

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Pajamas and Comfy clothes: Spending additional time in the dorm room means there will be more time for casual attire. Pajama sets, lounge pants, PJ pants, and short sets all fit the bill quite nicely. Make sure you have different styles for seasonal temperature changes and variety for at least 2 weeks because doing laundry is typically not a college student’s priority.

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Exercise Essentials: You won’t be able to bring a full gym to school, but a few small pieces of fitness equipment are something every college student should have this year. Because they won’t be walking to class as much and the public work-out areas will be capacity limited- or maybe even closed – students will likely not be as active as they should be. Encourage your student to stay active and provide them with tools to do so. Resistance bands, hand weights, yoga mats, and medicine balls are small and can be stored in a small space. You could also look up some online work-out videos or buy your student a subscription to a website that offers a variety of live online classes. Comfortable walking shoes should also be on the list so during downtimes, they can take a walk, get some fresh air and exercise.

Dorm Room

Room Décor:There’s no place like home never meant more than it does today. Your college student will likely be a bit more homesick this year due to less socializing and get-togethers. Make sure their living space at school is as warm and inviting as possible. A Himalayan salt lamp for example, gives off a warm glow and is also said to have stress-relieving properties and provide a better night’s sleep.  Wall décor, fun accessories, and even plants can really help make a dorm room feel like a second home. As a side note, a vacuum cleaner may be a good idea as well. 

Whether your child is just starting their college career, finishing up, or somewhere in the middle, preparing in advance for the current situation is very important to your student’s success. We wish all students the best of luck in 2020!

15 Late-Night Snacks You Can Make In A Microwave

Back to College: Late-Night Treats You Can Make in a Microwave

School is back in session. By now you’ve moved into the dorm, unpacked, and are getting settled into your class schedule. Balancing school, your social life, and maybe even your job is a lot to take on. This often leads to evening study sessions, night shifts, or late-night hang outs with friends. Whatever you’re up to in the wee hours, you’re bound to get a craving for a late night snack every now and again.

Don’t let minor details like “not having a kitchen” stop you from cooking up something delicious. Crawl into your favorite pajama pants and give one of these inventive microwave-only recipes a try. We guarantee that you will be equally amazed and satisfied!

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Get cozy with a snack and these Unisex Flannel Pajama Pants from Boxercraft.

15 Late-night snacks you can make in a microwave.

1. Chocolate Pudding Cake. Brown sugar in the batter of this classic fudgy cake makes it extra rich and gooey. Swing by your local convenience store and grab your favorite vanilla ice cream to top it with. The longer the cake cools, the more the pudding is absorbed into the mixture. Get the recipe from Food Networkhere.

2. Blueberry Muffin. Fresh “baked” blueberry muffin, cooked in a mug in your microwave! While summer is over, you might still be able to find some reasonably priced blueberries. What we like about this recipe is that it’s actually low-sugar, low-carb, so it’s a lighter choice as well. Get the recipe from The Gingham Apron here.

3. Caramel Popcorn. You read that correctly: perfect caramel popcorn. Hot from the microwave. Each piece of popcorn is guaranteed to be coated with just enough salty sugary sweetness. Best part? Its light and crispy texture. Get the recipe from This Week for Dinner here.

4. Chili Cheese Dip. This is just a friendly reminder that the go-to “microwave classics” are still just as delicious. Whip up a quick 3-ingredient chili cheese dip in a mere 5 minutes. Crack open a bag of tortilla chips and enjoy. Get the recipe from All Recipeshere.

5. Chocolate Chip Cookie in a Cup. That’s right a freshly baked… errr, zapped… ooey gooey chocolate chip cookie, on demand, using nothing but your microwave. The perfect snack to go with a pair of warm footy pajamas and a big glass of milk. Get the recipe from No. 2 Pencilhere.

6. Oatmeal Bars. Great for a late-night snack or a sweet accompaniment to stale coffee, these chocolate-slathered oatmeal bars can be whipped up in just moments. With so few ingredients, it’s pretty easy to keep everything you need on hand. Get the recipe from Taste of Home here.

7. Best Ever Bacon. What about those Saturday or Sunday mornings when you’re craving a hot breakfast but feeling a little… shall we say, under the weather? If you’re not one to make it to the dining hall for breakfast, master this easy how-to for perfectly crispy microwaved bacon. Get the instructions from The Creek Line Househere.

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Unfortunately, you can’t make sushi in the microwave. Satisfy your late-night craving with these sushi flannel pajama pants from The Cat’s Pajamas.

8. Cheesy Vegetable Quiche. Looking for a follow-up dish to go with that perfectly crispy bacon? Why stay in your pajamas and whip up some brunch? These quiche delivers time after time, regardless of the ingredients you choose. Get the recipe from Fresh April Flourshere.

9. Enchiladas. Late night cravings for salty, cheesy, spicy Mexican food can be satisfied with this quick and easy recipe for microwave enchiladas. Ready in just 10 minutes! Get the recipe from Flippin Delicioushere.

10. Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cake. This super decadent cake tastes just like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and just like the candy, it’s virtually impossible to share. The entire cake is made inside — you guessed it — a coffee mug. Get the recipe from Yammie’s Noshery here.

11. French Toast. Okay, we understand that this one might be hard to wrap your head around but it is possible to recreate French Toast in a microwave… in just 2-minutes! Top with maple syrup and you have a tasty fall treat for any time of the day. Get the recipe from Pretty Prudent here.

12. Peanut Brittle. We agree that at first glance, microwave peanut brittle does sound like it would be a total disaster. However, this recipe turns out beautifully to everyone’s surprise. Just like grandma used to make, but without all the fuss. Get the recipe from Plain Chicken here.

13. Hasty Chocolate Pudding. Have you ever had fresh, hot pudding? It is absolute perfection, especially on a chilly fall night. Pull on your coziest flannel pajamas and curl up with a bowl of this delicious microwave alternative to stove top pudding. Get the recipe from All Recipes here.

14. Scrambled Eggs. Another great side to go with that microwave bacon, scrambled eggs in the microwave is done in as little as three steps and 3 minutes depending on how many eggs you make. Throw in some cheese and green onion if you want to get crazy. Get the recipe from She Pins here.

15. Mac n’ Cheese. This list wouldn’t be complete without the addition of the ultimate late-night craving, mac n’ cheese. This is an awesome recipe for homemade single-serving mac that you can whip up in a coffee mug in the microwave. It’s creamy and delicious and actually better for you than the store-bought microwave variety. Get the easy recipe from Ella Claire Inspired here.

We hope this collection of fun microwave recipes come to your rescue this semester! For more recipes and ideas for fall fun, visit The Pajama Company blog at thepajamacompany.com/blog.

Back to College Pajamas

How to Recreate the Comforts of Home in a Dorm Room

How to Recreate the Comforts of Home in Your Dorm Room

Your first college dorm room is often the first time many you experience the discomforts of adulthood in your young life. You’re crammed into a tiny box with white washed cement walls with a complete stranger. This shared space is a far cry from the comfortable and familiar home you came from.

Many college freshmen end up sending half a carload of stuff back home, overestimating the amount of space they’ll be granted. While it’s important to pack light, and seasonally, there are a handful of items that will make your brief stay in this little cell far more enjoyable.

Unisex Back-to-College Pajama Pants

Boxercraft Red and Black Plaid Flannel Pajama Pant

10 Tips to Make Your College Dorm Feel Like Home

1. Maximize Closet Space

One thing you have at home that you definitely will not have in college is space. Going home for Thanksgiving? Bring your summer wear and forgo packing every little layer you own. When you head home for Turkey Day, plan to check your bag and swap your light clothing for sweaters, jackets, and scarves. Another simple, inexpensive closet solution are vertical hangers — small hanging strips of hooks that allow to hang up to 8 articles of clothing vertically, utilizing all your closet space.

2. Soft Lighting

Rather than make use of the harsh, fluorescent overhead ceiling lights, it’s worth it to make a little room for a nice desk lamp with a “warm” bulb — one that diffuses a warm yellow glow instead of a harsh, bright white glare.

Fuzzy Friends 'Unicorn' Slippers from Aroma Home

Fuzzy Friends ‘Unicorn’ Slippers from Aroma Home

3. Slippers or Slipper Socks

What’s that weird stain on the carpet? Why is the linoleum floor perpetually sandy no matter how much you Swiffer? No need to care if your feet never touch the floor. Even if you weren’t into slippers at home, now is the time. College dorm rooms are notoriously disgusting, collecting decades of grunge that no amount of elbow grease will lift. A comfortable pair of slippers or a few pairs of slipper socks will go a long way.

4. Mattress Pad

No matter what you decide to bring, definitely opt for a high-quality mattress pad — one that will last you the full four years. The mattress you will sleep on is absolutely older than you. Serta makes extra fancy mattress pads that will provide you with a layer of its signature memory foam for a plush sleeping experience. A good night’s sleep is critical to performing at your peak, so don’t pass on this advice!

5. Oversized Coffee Mug

Think about items that could serve multiple purposes. A bowl-like coffee cup will get a lot of use over four years, for way more than coffee. It could also be a ramen bowl, a cereal bowl, hot chocolate mug, a Chex Mix holder, or heck eat a slice of pizza out of it — whatever. One of those and a spoon, fork, and knife are all you’ll need in a limited space.

'Malibu Plaid' Unisex Flannel Pajama Pants from Boxercraft

‘Malibu Plaid’ Unisex Flannel Pajama Pants from Boxercraft

6. Pajama Pants

Pajama pants are not just for sleeping! Keep in mind that you’ll likely be rolling out of bed and sprinting to class in these, so you’ll want to have pajama pants with some style. Check out our back-to-college style guide for inspiration.

7. Induction Cooktop

Many college campuses have banned hot plates, so if you’re craving a hot meal — especially during cold winter months — and the cafeteria isn’t an option, you’re out of luck. Induction cooktops don’t actually get hot. They heat the cookware on top of the cooktop. Now you can enjoy a bowl of ramen without burning the dorm down.

8. Tapestry

Posters are the classic way to cover those unsightly white concrete walls. For a softer homey look opt for a tapestry instead. They come in so many colors and styles that guys and girls with varying tastes can find something that suits them. Tapestries are large expanses of patterned fabric that will immediately soften the look of your dorm room cell, and diffuse that harsh fluorescent lighting.

9. Room Dividing Curtain

Thanks to Amazon, you can easily find 1000 dorm room privacy solutions, including an awkward but efficient twin-sized over-bed tent to zip yourself into. A great solution if you or your parents are handy, is a neutral-colored room-dividing curtain. They come with a heavy-duty tension rod (like a shower rod on steroids) and a heavy fabric that will provide floor-to-ceiling privacy as long as you can hang it between two walls. There are also hospital style room dividers that involve screwing a track into the ceiling. You will want to get approval from both your roommate and your RA before implementing.

'Fluffy Black Sheep' Fleece Robe by Munki Munki

‘Fluffy Black Sheep’ Fleece Robe by Munki Munki

10. Plush Bathrobe

You have no control over the fact that you have to share three grimey shower stalls with 40 other college freshman, but you can control how you feel while you’re walking there! Invest in a plush bathrobe that makes you feel warm, cozy, and comfortable. And shower sandals. Definitely don’t forget the shower sandals…

Embrace every pajama-filled, pizza-laden, coffee-saturated, sleep-deprived moment of your college experience and good luck to the class of 2022! For the latest back-to-college tips, visit us at thepajamacompany.com/blog.

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Back to College with These Dorm-Ready Pajama Looks

8 Classic Pajama Looks for Anywhere on Campus

Long after you graduate from college, you will feel nostalgic excitement when you spot a soon-to-be college freshman roaming the aisles of a department store, cart packed full of storage bins, towels, and twin sheets. When you leave the comforts of home, your dorm room becomes a cave of comfort.

After a few months, the dorm itself becomes more like home: packed with friends and familiar faces, sharing takeout in the lounge, watching a favorite movie with a roommate, late night study sessions. Students develop different routines and schedules and the dorm becomes a buzzing hub of activity, just as a house is for families.

A person’s idea of home revolves around one key element: comfort. One of the classic comforts of home is your ability to wear pajamas anywhere you go. Check out our PJ “Look Book” below for ideas on how to stay cozy, calm, and comfortable anywhere on campus.

The Back-to-College Pajama Look Book

Women's Pajama Pants for Back-to-College

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1. The “I’m Running Late for Class” Look. The line for the shower was six people deep and you finally got your turn — there was even hot water this time! Now you’re sprinting back to your dorm room in your bathrobe pick out a stylish outfit and do your hair with the 10 minutes you have left to get to class… or pull on the pajamas that are already on your bed, throw on a hoodie, and head out the door? No brainer.

Women's Onesie for Back-to-College

Big Feet Pajamas Adult Navy Plush Hooded One Piece Footy

2. The “It’s Too Cold for Jeans” Look. It’s a winter wonderland! And by winter wonderland we mean sleet and freezing rain sloshing around in a frosty snow globe. Your class is across campus and life is good underneath your fluffy, warm down comforter. The thought of pulling on a pair of cold, stiff jeans isn’t the motivation you need to leave your cocoon. Taking a hot shower and zipping yourself into a pair of flannel one-piece footie PJs that feel more like a sleeping bag than actual clothes? That’ll do the trick.

Unisex Back-to-College Pajama Pants

Boxercraft Red and Black Plaid Flannel Pajama Pant

3. The “But It’s Raining” Look. Wet, cold, foggy: gross. You’re already going to have to navigate puddles and maneuver an umbrella when it’s raining sideways. Throw a jacket over these cozy flannel pants, slip on some dry rain boots, and you’re ready to swim to Organic Chemistry.

Dorm Life College Women's Boxers

Boxercraft Fushia Dot Flannel Bitty Boxer

4. The “We Don’t Have A/C in Our Dorm and It’s 96 Degrees Outside” Look. If you’re sharing a hot tin can with 300 other co-ed sardines it can get a little stale and stuffy by springtime. After you’ve spent the night sweating next to your desk fan, it might be time to cool off in some breezy boxers in the fresh morning air.

Comfy Slippers for Dorm Life, Back to College

Fuzzy Friends “Tiger” Slippers from Aroma Home

5. Finals Footwear. What day is it? Is it still nighttime? Where are the coffee filters? All questions you find yourself asking during dreaded finals week. This is not the week for real clothes. Or showering. Or sleeping. Or socializing. No finals week zombie walk is complete without a pair of comforting, fuzzy slippers. Slip these on, grab a slice of cold pizza, and knock out that test.

Plush Women's Robe for Back-to-College

PJ Salvage “Stars” Women’s Plush Robe in Aqua

6. The “That Party Was Epic But I Need 10 More Hours of Sleep” Look. The party is over and you’re feeling less than peppy in the AM. You don’t want to leave bed, but the cafeteria stops serving bacon at 11. Compromise: a bathrobe is essentially a comforter you can wear. Win, win.

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Boxercraft Women’s Navy Stripe Margo Loungepant

7. The “We Can’t Afford to Go Out Tonight” Look. When your budget looks like it’s about to be blown, it’s time to rally the troops for a binge-worthy Netflix marathon. Order a pizza and get comfortable in a pair of super soft, extra wide-leg pajama pants. It’ll feel like you’re watching TV in bed, even though you’re surrounded by ten of your closest, brokest friends.

Unisex Sushi Pajama Pants for Back to College

The Cat’s Pajamas Women’s “Sushi” Cotton Pajama Pant in White

8. The “It’s Been a Rough Week” Look. Pajamas, above all, are a security blanket. Whether it’s a breakup, roommate drama, or stress from balancing school and life with your new internship, sometimes we just need to hibernate on the weekend. Make yourself a cup of hot chocolate (or noodles), turn on a Law and Order marathon, and shut off your phone. Put on a pair of PJs in the most fun, outrageous pattern you can find. You’ll be feeling like yourself again by Monday.

Embrace every pajama-filled, pizza-laden, coffee-saturated, sleep-deprived moment of your college experience — and good luck to the class of 2021! For the latest in dorm fashion, visit us at dorm ready.