For Those Bound for College...

Found some of these back-to-school items for college students. For those of you with a university-bound kiddo or friend, you may want to consider these items (saying this tongue-in-cheek, mind you).

The College Care Gift Bag from Star Provisions - for only $175, you can send your college student off to school with:

• 1 Star Provisions feed bag
• 1 Star Provisions baseball cap
• 1 Bodum Brazil 12oz french coffee press
• 1 lb bag Dancing Goats coffee
• 2 heavy hall china plates
• 2 heavy hall cereal bowls
• 2 heavy hall mugs
• 12 disposable wooden place settings flatware
• 1 box Hot Tamale candy
• 2 boxed candy cigarettes
• 1 ear popcorn on the cob
• 1 bag bourbon caramel corn
• 1 Orla Kiely composition book
• 1 table top ping pong set

Hmm, this sounds like a swag bag for Holden Caulfield, not the average college student I know. But, hey, maybe kids are more sophisticated these days. Should we be concerned that it contains stimulants, fake tobacco products and bourbon laced caramal corn? Hmmm.

The Alfie Khaki Bag from Elements is an upscale alternative to your L.L. Bean backpack. It features a back slot for your laptop or iPad, but at $240, I’m going to have to pass.

A more affordable item is the Dorm Survival Kit from Mr. & Mrs. It contains a book light, caffeine gum, eye mask, earplugs, a first aid kit, thermometer, laundry bag, laundry instructions, sewing kit, air freshener, poster adhesive and screwdriver. Laundry instructions - really? Geez, parents, get your kids on board with doing the laundry long before college.

I found these oh-so-practical items among other great finds on Taigon. If you haven’t visited this luxury online retail site, be sure to stop by. While most items are not in my budget, it’s fun to browse anyway.

TGIF, folks. Have a great weekend!