Bigger families (there are many variations of this mod, this link is one of them):

http://drupal.cyjon.net/node/141

Triplets & Quads mod:

http://www.simbology.com/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=b867e14e7c42c85ba4c91a793e206363&topic=18.0
.

You might well find some helpful info/tips starting here:

http://www.sims2wiki.info/wiki.php?title=Tutorials:CAS_Tutorials
.

Several options come immediately to mind:

1) christianlov's Multiphone includes a 'power invite' feature:

http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=293793

2) You could always use a summoner or teleporter to bring a Sim over directly, bypassing an invite. Insimenator (no longer supported) includes a summoner, or Inge has teleporters available:

http://www.simlogical.com/sl/Sims2Pages/Sims2_Teleporters.htm

Might have been "Pokey the Giraffe" toy at Exnem. Used to be here (free reg. req.):

http://www.exnemsims.com/forum/showthread.php?t=854

but appears to have been removed from the site, near as I can make out.

There are a fair number of those. Not sure which one(s) you're after, but here are a few:

http://ambular.djssims.com/index.php?category=7&subcat=9

(scroll down to "Discover desk"): http://www.sims2code.hk/english/zet007.php

(scroll down to "Pinewood Computer Work Station": http://sims2code.hk/english/zet013.php

(free reg. req.):  https://www.sailfinsims.com/forum/downloads/showentry.php?e=161&catid=306

http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=304255

Squinge has a mod which will summon the pack leader on a specific timetable:

http://www.insimenator.org/index.php?topic=27975.0
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Also a bunch for base game machine here:

http://nene.modthesims.info/download.php?t=36745
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Several  types of berets at Dedital Sheep (though don't recall if they are unisex or not) in the general Accessories section and also, IIRC, in the Accessories-Halloween section (oddly enough):

http://dsb.g.ribbon.to/downloads/accessory/accse.html

If you have problems decompressing the file from there (at least one of them is in a less common format, an .lzh file), a 'regular' file of the mesh (.rar file) is included with some recolors here:

http://simmergirl.com/show_entry.asp?EntryID=976

EDIT: Okay, different picture in message than before. Looks more like a turban from what I can make out. Perhaps this:

http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=217385
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Do you have Insimenator installed?

If so, using the Temporsal Adjusot and 'Fix appearance' willl set things right.

Compressorizer (use at own risk):

http://forum.jfade.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=170
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You're probably looking for Inge's Automatic Open sign at Simlogical:

http://simlogical.com/sl/Sims2Pages/Sims2_OFB.htm

Two more:

http://www.sims2wiki.info/wiki.php?title=Content_List:Decorating_Themes/Clutter_and_Functional_Home_Decor

http://www.exnemsims.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2182

And an older one (many links by now DOA):

http://chukhin.brinkster.net/Lynne/sims/themes/kitchen.html

The only type of stove you should place in a dorm is the Shiny Tyme Cooktop.

Any other stove will result in what you describe.

Required items for dorms to function as intended:

Shiny Tyme stove
Counter islands
Dishwasher or sink in same room as stove
Garbage can or trash compactor in same room as stove
Myne dorm doors
Telephone
Sprinkler in same room as stove

Temporarily move that folder out and see if the prob goes away.

Edible foods (4 pages worth):

http://www.epicurisims.com/Foods/Ethnic/asian1.html

Some links there may lead to $$$ or to free registration required sites.

If you need decorative Chinese foods, give a holler.