The 32 Best Back-to-School Essentials from Urban Outfitters

Aug 08, 2016

As much as it *hurts* to say goodbye to summer, there’s nothing like back-to-school shopping to get you psyched for a fresh start to another school year. When it comes to where to shop, there’s always Target and Office Depot. But if you’re looking for home and school supplies with an eclectic and quirky flair, be sure to check out Urban Outfitters for the most on-trend essentials. Scroll on for all our top picks and get ready for the best year yet.

1. Urban Outfitters Seven-Piece Color Pop Cookware Set ($69): This vibrant aluminum cookware set is all you need to whip up tasty and affordable meals this school year. And thanks to these guys, you won’t feel as homesick for your favorite homemade dishes!

2. Urban Outfitters Petite Point Gel Pen Set ($16, set of 12): If precise coloring does it for ya, pick up these super fine-tipped gel pens. Intended for highly detailed coloring book illustrations, there’s no doubt that these amazing gel pens will contribute to some crazy colorful and neat notes.

3. Urban Outfitters Filament Journal ($12): Jot down important class notes in this one-of-a-kind journal. You’ll definitely stand out in a sea of basic notebooks with a print as unique as this.

4. Urban Outfitters Ceramic Food Storage Bowl Set ($34, set of four): Add this set of four storage bowls to your kitchenware to make sure nothing goes to waste. Complete with clear lids, these ceramic bowls are great for storing leftovers in your mini fridge or packing lunch.

5. Urban Outfitters Melembe Shibori Tapestry ($59): Channel those boho vibes with this gorgeous dyed tapestry. It’s perfect for sprucing up a bare wall or even acting as a room divider if needed.

6. Urban Outfitters Mesa Soft Dye Jersey Duvet Cover ($119+): A good night’s rest is crucial to performing well in school. So make sure catching z’s won’t be a problem with this ultra comfy cotton duvet cover in a gorgeous dyed design.

7. Urban Outfitters Fleur-de-Lys Glass Jar ($16): This versatile glass jar with a textured fleur-de-lys motif makes the ideal container for holding all your bathroom or vanity necessities. The pop of purple keeps things interesting and will definitely brighten up any space.

8. Contigo Purity Glass Water Bottle ($18): Made of glass, stainless steel and food-grade silicone, this water bottle is a must-have for keeping you hydrated between and during your classes. Its stainless steel strap and durable silicone sleeve also make it easy to grip and carry.

9. Urban Outfitters Fried Egg Cutting Board ($29): Crafted from natural Rubberwood, this fun, egg-shaped cutting board is just right for the foodie in you. It even comes with a tie-top so you can hang it from your kitchen wall or drawer knob when not in use.

10. Urban Outfitters Good Vibes Tufted Bath Mat ($34): You don’t need to tolerate freezing bathroom tiles in the morning or risk slipping after a shower, thanks to this trusty bath mat. Featuring a cute tufted “Good Vibes” design, there’s *almost* no way you can say no to that.

11. Urban Outfitters Bendi Jewelry Organizer ($29): Avoid clutter and potentially losing your favorite jewelry items with this metal organizer. Store and display necklaces, earrings and bracelets on its unique wave-like design.

12. Urban Outfitters Black + White Grid Hamper ($39): Give your hamper a mod-inspired look with this black and white grid design. It even features two handles that fold down, which makes hauling your load to the laundry machine a cinch.

13. Urban Outfitters Blue Marble Keyboard Cover ($12): Give your laptop a stylish makeover with this blue marble-inspired keyboard cover. Made of silicone, the flexible cover is easy to remove and wipe clean.

14. Urban Outfitters Bluetooth Speaker String Lights ($50): Great for late-night get-togethers, these Bluetooth-compatible string lights will let you play your favorite songs all night long. You can even bring them outdoors for any porchside/patio brunch session.

15. Urban Outfitters Cactus Cork Desk Organizer ($15): Spruce up *and* tidy your desk with this plant + organizer hybrid. It comes with push pins for you to tack on photos, notes, accessories and more!

16. Urban Outfitters Copper Wire Shelf ($44): If affordability is your utmost priority when it comes to furniture, that might mean you’re working with a desk without actual means of storage. On the other hand, you could just be running short on space, so stock up on storage space with this wire shelf you can simply slide onto any desk or bookshelf.

17. Urban Outfitters Dry Erase Memo Elephant ($26): Channel the impressive memory of elephants with this cute dry erase memo elephant figurine. It comes with a black marker, but feel free to brighten it up with a set of colored dry erase markers.

18. Urban Outfitters Geo Shelf ($89): Modern meets rustic in this unique geometric shelf. You can store your textbooks and school supplies in this fun and functional design piece that *totally* speaks to your experimental side.

19. Urban Outfitters Kitty Tape Dispenser ($16): Put a fun spin on this workspace essential with this cute antique-inspired cat tape dispenser. For a decorative flair, you can even trade out the cellophane tape for washi tape once you use it all up.

20. Urban Outfitters Marble Journal ($12): Modern and minimalist are what this journal is all about. If you’re into the simple and understated look, use this notebook to jot down all your important class notes.

21. Urban Outfitters Marble Swirl Utensil Set ($20, set of 12): Give a pretty marbled effect to your kitchen essentials with this set of marbled swirl utensils. Because it comes with four sets of each utensil, you can even split them and the cost between you and your roommates.

22. Urban Outfitters Mini Refrigerator ($149): A mini fridge is a must-have for all you dormers. Give the dorm essential a personalized flair by getting this retro-inspired one.

23. Urban Outfitters Oh Snap Leather Journal ($24): This leather-bound blank journal includes a soft fabric interior with a mini pocket and pencil holder. Perfect for jotting down everything from your class schedule to your *feelings*, this multi-purpose journal is the one you’ll want for when you go back to school.

24. Urban Outfitters Paddywax Concrete Candle ($14): Available in sea salt + sage, amber + smoke and tobacco + patchouli, this soy wax blend candle is the one to amp up the ambiance in your home. It doesn’t hurt that the candles’ concrete and color-dipped design is uber modern-chic.

25. Urban Outfitters Peg Board ($24): Save this handy peg board for yourself or turn it into a communal message board between you and your roommates. Featuring 350 letters, numbers and symbols, this board is well-stocked for any note, message or joke you want to make.

26. Urban Outfitters Penguin Corkscrew Wine Opener ($24): Ladies night isn’t complete without a bottle of wine, so don’t get caught unprepared. Make sure you have this penguin corkscrew wine opener on-hand to pop open all the bottles.

27. Urban Outfitters Pink Moon Portable Power Charger ($26): Never worry about a dying battery again! There will be no more missed calls/texts/emails with this portable pink moon power charger.

28. Urban Outfitters Small Collapsible Bento Box ($16): On that college budget? Save money by packing your lunch in this cute and collapsible bento box.

29. Urban Outfitters Steel Travel Tumbler ($24): Functionality has never looked this good. Take your coffee to go in this sleek stainless steel tumbler for those wake-at-the-crack-of-dawn classes. It comes with triple wall insulation, so you know your coffee will stay hot throughout the morning.

30. Urban Outfitters Tower Toothbrush Holder ($16): Forget a communal toothbrush cup — opt for this more sanitary option instead. With this handy toothbrush holder, your housemates won’t ever accidentally mistake your toothbrush for theirs. Thank goodness!

31. Urban Outfitters Wire Wall Grid ($59): Avoid desktop clutter with this multi-purpose wall hanging. Its modern grid-like design makes it a cinch to clip and display everything from photos to important notes.

32. Urban Outfitters Wireless Panda Speaker ($28): Start your mornings off right by getting ready listening to your favorite playlist on this adorable panda-inspired wireless speaker. Simply connect your speaker to any Bluetooth-compatible device like your smartphone or tablet and jam out!

Which of these goodies will you get for back to school? Follow us on Pinterest for more back-to-school must-haves!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

10 Money Hacks To Save For Your Dream Life Now

It can be tricky to navigate seasons of life where money is tight and the cost of living is high. You want to make sure you aren't wasteful with what you have, but you also want to have some fun. Getting on top of your finances requires more than just checking your balance at the end of the month, and that's why we talked to cool girl and self-proclaimed "Financial Popstar" Haley Sacks (AKA Mrs. Dow Jones).

These money tips will make saving money more fun, and help you better understand the world of finance so that you can achieve your own "Financial Glow Up." Here's how you can start saving money for your dream life today.

Image via Adrien Pellerin

Contrary to what you might have been taught, you don't have to entirely cut fun things out of your life in order to save money. Doing so might actually have the opposite effect: you could burn out and spend way more than you would have if you simply added spending into your budgeted.

"If it’s a splurge that you’re obsessed with and will up your quality of life — then let’s figure out how much it costs and how you’re going to pay for it," Sacks says. She recommends the 50-30-20 method for your budget.

"Start by calculating your after-tax income and break it into 3 categories: 50% for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for future you!" she continues. "That 30% number is what we are going to focus on. That’s the amount you can spend every month on…whatever you want. This splurge included! Just make sure you don’t go over that number because you should never spend on your current self if you’re not also putting money away for future you."

Saving Up For Your Financial Goals

Budgeting helps you divide up your savings before the money goes into your account. That way, you always know what you're saving for. (It's also a good idea to have extra savings because you never know when your car will need a new battery or if you'll have an unexpected trip to the ER).

Saving requires some self-control since it's money you aren't able to spend right now, and it can be difficult to release your current spending habits. "[That stubbornness] really just comes from a fear of the unknown," Sacks says. "We often choose what is comfortable over what’s new! But the more you understand why you’re doing something, the more that stubbornness can be released." Here are some specific financial goals to save up for:

Goal: Becoming Debt-Free

Think how much more money you'll have to save *and* spend once your debt is paid off! Check out the snowball method vs. the avalanche method to figure out what's best for you, and just take it one day at a time.

Goal: Taking A Bucket-List Trip

Whether you've been dreaming of going to France since Emily in Paris dropped or you want to go on a solo trip to your favorite small town, you'll definitely want enough cash to have a good time. You can't go wrong spending money on an experience you'll love.

Goal: Scoring Tix To See Your Favorite Performer

Concert merch, movie tickets, name brand collections — start saving now for these once-in-a-lifetime events and your future self will thank you.

How To Start Investing

Investing is different than a regular savings account. When you invest your money, instead of just sitting in an account, it's put to work in a variety of projects so that you make a net profit and end up with more money than you had before. You can invest with a retirement plan, or government-related options like stocks and bonds. Here's some more investing info to get you started.

Consider getting a financial advisor early in life. Financial advisors can really make a difference in your long-term goals, whether you want to buy a home, start a family, or retire well. Make sure you find a certified financial advisor who is a fiduciary, which means they are legally or ethically bound to act in your best interest. They can help you figure out where to invest your 401Ks and really help you invest and build your savings over time.

How To Become Financially Literate + Financially Independent

Financial independence can feel like a crazy goal when you're in the throes of debt and bills. But there's one thing that can help you move toward it: financial literacy. After all, knowledge is power.

"The more that you take control of your finances, the more you take control of your life and destiny," Sacks says. "Financial literacy also ensures you never get taken advantage of and that you’re maximizing the benefits of all the financial products you use."

Everyone has a different financial situation, which means that everyone has to make different financial choices. Taking a step toward financial independence can mean anything from reexamining your grocery bill to creating streams of passive income that make you money while you sleep (more on that later).

All in all, financial literacy and financial independence can go hand-in-hand. Check out the 5 Tax Terms That Can Save You Money, or these 6 Money Tips For Kids. It's never too early to learn!

How To Make Saving Money Less Boring

You might be thinking, "Saving money just doesn't sound fun," and technically you're right. Saving might not feel fun on its own, which is exactly why we're here! Pinterest Predict's Cha-Ching Challenge got us thinking about ways that we can turn saving into a game. Try one or all of these ideas, and let us know your favorite.

Make Learning Fun

If you want to learn more about finances, find a program that puts the terminology into your language, like Sacks' own aspirational finance media company, Finance Is Cool. "It makes being good with your money chic," she says. "I designed it with the goal of helping the future rich people who follow me take control of their finances step-by-step and provide them with the tools they need to grow wealth, all with a little humor and a lot of Kardashian references so we can have fun while we learn."

Maximize Your Card

If you have a credit card, or a debit card with benefits, use the points and rewards to your advantage. Sacks loves the Amex Rewards Checking account. "I earn Membership Rewards points on eligible Debit Card purchases that I can use on shopping, traveling, and more," she says.

Set up an automated deposit into your checking account when the rewards reach a certain number, or save up all your points for a dream-worthy trip during the summer. You can also check out Brit's interview with The Points Guy for more inspo.

Make Money In Your Sleep

Create one (or more) streams of passive income to bolster your paycheck. You can create downloadable guides and video tutorials, sell photography, or add affiliate links to blog posts, but the beauty of passive income is that whatever you choose will do the work for you.

Have Regular Money Dates

A money date can be carving out time for yourself (or with your partner) to create a comfortable space and review your priorities, values, and overall financial goals and hopefully actually set a plan in motion to achieve those. Take yourself out to a cafe or have a glass of wine by your side to make it fun while feeling good about where you're going. Good luck!

With so much information at our finger tips, it's never been easier to take control of your finances. Check out our email newsletter for more money tips and tricks to help you have your own financial glow up.

Lead image courtesy of Pexels/Karolina Grabowska.

I Made The Starbucks Medicine Ball Drink At Home – Here's How It Went

When I was working barista shifts at Starbucks over the winter, we'd get Medicine Ball orders every single hour. And not going to lie, I really hated them. Let me get this straight — I didn't hate the drink, but I more so disliked the fact that the customers ordering them almost always demanded their tea between a swarm of thick coughs and countless small sniffles. Yuck.

It truly felt like I was on the fence of getting sick pretty much every time someone stepped up to the register. But, I remained strong and I did what I had to do as a service worker, which in this case, was to pour the peachy-citrus tea into a pool of honey syrup, then top it with steamed lemonade. Coughs and sniffles aside, I often questioned why someone would order the Medicine Ball, based on the cost of the drink alone (up to $6, and that gets expensive when you're ordering it all the time).

Popular during sick season, the Starbucks Medicine Ball (AKA the Honey Citrus Mint Tea) may be good, but it's not good enough to cure you of that semi-flu, or whatever other pathogens might have been floating around in my café. It's also not worth putting someone else's health in jeopardy. Turns out, you can make the Medicine Ball at home — which saves money and effort (and spares others' safety) in the long run.

Scroll on to find out how simple making the Starbucks Medicine Ball really is!

@k.ard Medicine Ball for only $1.69 each! #medicineball #fluseason #coldseason #starbucksdupe #budgettok #SephoraConcealers #DrPepperTuitionContest #halloween #fall2022 ♬ Halloween - KenZie DarkStar

TikTok always makes recipes look effortless. So, I took this trusty tutorial into our own hands to compare how good an at-home Medicine Ball could really be against the real one from Starbucks.

Ingredients for the Starbucks Medicine Ball Drink

Starbucks

How can I make a Medicine Ball at home?

Anna Pou / PEXELS

Making a Starbucks Medicine Ball at home is pretty straightforward:

Heat 1 cup of lemonade in the microwave for 45 seconds to a minute.
Add 1 cup of hot water and stir in 1 tablespoon honey.
Add one bag of Peach Tranquility and one bag of Jade Citrus Mint, then steep for a few minutes.
Enjoy your Medicine Ball!

How I Made The Starbucks Medicine Ball At Home

Meredith Holser

First, I embarked on an ever-iconic Target run to gather my copycat Starbucks Medicine Ball recipe ingredients. Since they were out of the exact Teavana teas I needed to replicate the TikTok recipe, I picked up two similar ones: first, the Good & Gather Organic Peach Honey Tea, and the Good & Gather Organic Mint Tea. I also picked up a jug of lemonade, and planned to use the honey I already had at home. All together, the three ingredients I needed ended up costing me about $9.50.

Step 1: Heat Lemonade

Tara Winstead / PEXELS

I measured a cup of lemonade, and just popped my Starbucks mug in the microwave for a minute.

Step 2: Add Water and Honey

Roman Odinstov / PEXELS

While the lemonade was in the microwave, I set some water on in my electric kettle. Once both liquids were heated up, I measured a cup of water and combined it in the mug with a tablespoon of honey. Yum!

Step 3: Steep Tea Bags

Anna Pou / PEXELS

Then, I put the two teabags in the mixture to steep. The tea wasn't overly hot either, and I steeped them for about 3 minutes before giving my homemade Medicine Ball recipe a lil' sip.

Is the homemade version of the Medicine Ball as good as the one from Starbucks?

Meredith Holser

To my surprise, my homemade Medicine Ball recipe was extremely delicious, and it mimicked the Starbucks one so closely. Before tasting, I gave my tea a sniff, and the smell was pretty much identical to the drink made in stores. The flavor hit the exact same mark.

Overall, I rate my homemade Starbucks Medicine Ball a 4.7/5.

The only detracting factors are the temperature of the drink – Starbucks steams their lemonade to make the drink super hot, and mine wasn't nearly as piping. Of course, this is just personal preference, and next time, I can heat the lemonade for a longer duration, or reheat the drink altogether. Another reason for the minimal point deduction is the drink wasn't as sweet as I expected it to be. Again, this is a personal preference, and you can add as little or as much sweetener you desire!

All of this goes to say, that a homemade Starbucks Medicine Ball is just as yummy as the one you can get at a Starbucks cafe. By following the steps above, you can make a copycat recipe that's going to satisfy your hankering for a citrusy, hot tea!

Looking for more at-home copycat recipes like this Medicine Ball from Starbucks? Browse our site for more DIYs!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated.

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Um, Gavin Casalegno Is Married!

You might ship Jeremiah and Belly on The Summer I Turned Pretty, but actor Gavin Casalegno is officially off the market. On November 12, the actor hard launched his relationship on Instagram by announcing he had gotten married and the chats went crazy. The Vampire Diaries actor has been keeping things very low-key for over a year, so if this news surprises you, you're not alone!

Keep reading for everything you need to know about Gavin Casalegno's wife.

Is Gavin Casalegno married?

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A post shared by Gavin Casalegno (@gavincasalegno)

"FOREVER CAPTIVATED BY YOU🕊️" Gavin and his new wife Cheyanne said in a joint Instagram post November 12. Gavin wore a black tux while Cheyanne wore a gorgeous strapless gown with a gauzy train and separate, lacy sleeves. As for the veil? The bride wore white fabric over her neck over her shoulders. Gorgeous!

Naturally, the comments went crazy. "okay hard launch !!!!!" one reads, while another user says, "DID I MISS A COUPLE HUNDRED CHAPTERS????"

Gavin and Cheyanne have been together since (at least) spring 2023, when Cheyanne posted him on her Instagram stories. Since then Gavin (or at least, his hair) has popped up on her Insta grid — by the ocean, in Paris, and in the car. Even though Gavin never name dropped his SO at the time, he did talk about dating.

"I definitely have just learned to be more private, which is super interesting because I’m always out in public," he told Shondaland in 2023. "I had to really learn to navigate my own privacy and well-being. So, the quick fix for me is just deleting Instagram and all these apps to kind of check out, to be with my family and be with myself, to spend some time with the Lord — that’s really where I thrive.”

He also told Cosmopolitan that he's had to learn “what it means to just mature a little bit in the dating space."

"You’re dating to marry; you’re not dating to just date,” he said. “I think that gets lost a lot of times in younger generations. So I really try to be intentional with everything that I do as far as spending my time and gift giving and flirting and all these things. I really try to be intentional about it.”

Who is Gavin Casalegno's wife?

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A post shared by DAUGHTER OF THE MOST HIGH GOD (@cheyannecasalegno)

Cheyanne King (er, Casalegno) is a registered nurse who graduated in 2023 from Baylor University, according to her LinkedIn.

How many exes does Gavin Casalegno have?

Gavin Casalegno dated model, dancer, and actress Larsen Thompson (who also has 1.2M followers on TikTok) for six years before the couple split in 2022.

Want the latest news on your favorite celeb relationships? Madison Bailey Got Emotional About Rudy Pankow's Outer Banks Exit Amid Cast Drama Rumors.

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