Hoosier, Ready for The Next Four Years?
Michelle Balaun2020-08-26T13:01:50-04:00Becoming a Hoosier If you have a student ready to spend the next four years at Indiana University Bloomington and plan to visit, get ready to get a glim [...]
Are You Ready For Some Football?
Michelle Balaun2020-10-09T18:06:35-04:00You can almost hear the crowd roar… ***Note: The Big Ten Council of President and Chancellors have decided to continue the football season starting on t [...]
First-Time Student Loan Borrower
Michelle Balaun2020-07-09T12:53:26-04:00You’ll Need to Do This. What is the Entrance Counseling? In July of 2016, the U.S. Department of Education made it a requirement that, in order to have [...]
Are Your Student’s Valuables Safe?
Michelle Balaun2020-05-08T16:05:10-04:00Suggestions to Protect their Valuables One more thing to worry about, is their stuff safe? When they were at home, you knew the valuables were safe, but [...]
Beauty & The Beast
Michelle Balaun2021-06-10T15:06:47-04:00Look Your Beauty Best! When planning for college, we rarely think about the fact that our kids may still have to visit hair salons and barbershops or ge [...]
Best Places to Study at IU
Michelle Balaun2020-08-21T16:48:41-04:00Finding a good place to study is very important for students. Finding a good place to study on campus is like the ultimate jackpot. While most students [...]
Books, Books, Books
Michelle Balaun2020-08-21T15:50:29-04:00To Buy or Rent books, That is the Question. One of the first things students need to accomplish to stay on top of things is getting all the right books. [...]
Brunch is Breakfast plus Lunch plus Fun
Michelle Balaun2020-07-10T18:41:39-04:00“Brunch is breakfast without an alarm.” — Unknown While there are so many options for brunch in this small Midwestern town, these are just a few of the [...]
Wakey Wakey- Eggs and Bakey Breakfast
Michelle Balaun2020-08-05T10:54:36-04:00Here are Our Favorites for Breakfast Like any small town, there are literally hundreds of dining options from fast food to fast-casual, from family-styl [...]
Learn to budget your money
Michelle Balaun2020-07-16T17:16:08-04:00The Money Budget Talk At orientation we were inundated with information about all sorts of things; from FAFSA forms to meal plans. No one ever really el [...]
Computer and Phone Repair
Michelle Balaun2020-09-20T12:34:17-04:00When it breaks it is such an issue…Phone or Computer repair is needed! You can repair these costly devices! Sadly, I can’t even count the number of crac [...]
Dropping a Class
Michelle Balaun2020-05-08T16:11:16-04:00Dropping, When Is it Time? When is the right time when dropping a class won't hurt? There's a point in every student’s college career where one class br [...]
Dance Marathon
Michelle Balaun2020-05-12T14:57:34-04:00You Can ... If You Want To Maybe you have never even heard of Dance Marathon. If you have a student at IU, you will definitely want to know about this e [...]
Eating Healthy While at School
Michelle Balaun2020-09-08T14:58:07-04:00Healthy Eating, Not an Easy Feat! Can you eat healthy at college? It can be hard to eat healthfully when away at college. Meal plans, rushing to and fro [...]
Eating on a Budget
Michelle Balaun2020-08-05T10:49:30-04:00Teach Them Eating on a Budget and the Rest is Easy Eating on the run? Between grabbing a coffee on the way to class, going to Sunday brunches, picking u [...]
What You Should Do Before Heading to Indiana
Michelle Balaun2020-06-11T13:29:02-04:00Before you leave… Before you leave to take your kid to college, there are a few items you will want to take care of that are extremely important. Most c [...]
Family Weekend at IU
Michelle Balaun2020-09-11T17:15:32-04:00Early Bird Gets the Weekend Deals My first experience with Parents Weekend meant booking a hotel a year in advance except, as it was my daughter’s fresh [...]
Entertainment, Fun Stuff to do!
Michelle Balaun2020-05-08T16:20:46-04:00Entertainment, Other Things You Can Do for Fun There is more than just football or basketball for entertainment around IU, in fact, the best part about [...]
Fix It! Fix it Good!
Michelle Balaun2020-06-11T16:09:14-04:00If It’s Broken, You Must Fix It Car, scooter, or bike, oh my! Fix-it and fix it right! At IU, you will find all in large numbers. Talk to any student ab [...]
Homecoming at IU
Michelle Balaun2020-09-11T17:11:54-04:00Homecoming- It’s about the game. Homecoming…no, not the kind where our kids announce they are coming home for the weekend…Homecoming at IU is exciting. [...]
FAFSA – all the details you need!
Michelle Balaun2020-10-02T10:25:42-04:00First Applicants Find Substantial Assets, FAFSA of course! FAFSA is the national Free Application for Federal Student Aid but, based on how aid is distr [...]
Getting There – Transportation
Michelle Balaun2020-05-12T15:52:55-04:00Trains, Planes, and Automobiles...All the Transportation You Can Think Of Whether it will be the first time dropping off your student, visiting them for [...]
Graduation Restaurant Reservations
Michelle Balaun2020-08-06T21:43:46-04:00Reservations, The Earlier, The Better! Finally, graduation is here, yay! Family and friends will want to join you for a feast, here are our tips on loca [...]
IU Sports
Michelle Balaun2020-05-13T12:09:50-04:00Everything you’ll need to know about IU football and sports! Everyone loves sports, no matter what kind of sport it is. Way back when your student was d [...]
Grocery Stores
Michelle Balaun2020-05-12T16:13:02-04:00A Kids Gotta Eat, Find the Grocery Store! Does your student know where the grocery store is located? Whether your student lives on campus or off, they w [...]
Honor Roll The highest distinction!
Michelle Balaun2020-05-12T16:56:39-04:00Did you get a letter? A big honor during IU’s graduation ceremonies is wearing the cream and crimson honor cords. Owning these honor cords means that yo [...]
Health Insurance for College Students
Michelle Balaun2020-09-09T13:17:42-04:00Know More About Health Insurance Options Students at many colleges are required to have a health insurance plan but Indiana University is not one of tho [...]
Lost and Found – we can help!
Michelle Balaun2020-05-13T12:27:34-04:00Oh, No…It Happened, It's Lost! Have you ever lost anything really important before? My daughter always carries her wallet and phone in her purse when ru [...]
Hotels in and around Bloomington
Michelle Balaun2020-05-12T17:09:07-04:00A Nice Place to Stay Looking for a nice hotel? Bloomington offers a wide variety of choices for overnight accommodations. Here in this quaint Midwestern [...]
Meal Plan and Other Ways to Eat
Michelle Balaun2020-08-27T13:06:34-04:00Burgers and Pizza and Fries…Oh my! One of the many decisions you and your student will make is about the meal plan. With college right around the corner [...]
Mother-Daughter Time
Michelle Balaun2020-05-13T13:10:37-04:00A Little Retail Therapy Is Good for Mother-Daughter Time! Mother-Daughter weekend is something to look forward to. Shopping in Bloomington can be challe [...]
Move-In? All the Tips and Tricks to Making it Easy
Michelle Balaun2020-06-12T12:40:41-04:00Move-In Date! Apartments and Dorms It's time... move-in dates are set! Your student has been given their move-in date and dorm/residence assignment! Now [...]
Move-In Day
Michelle Balaun2020-06-12T12:37:52-04:00How To Be Prepared For Move-In Day. Whether you are a freshman or a senior, IU’s move-in day is …well… A lot of work. Be prepared for many trips to the [...]
Moving Out
Michelle Balaun2020-05-13T15:01:02-04:00Is Moving Out Harder? Moving out can be almost as hectic as moving into the dorms and apartments. It does not make sense to drag the entire contents of [...]
Nature vs Nurture
Michelle Balaun2020-09-10T12:17:08-04:00So much more Nature than you think! It's so important to get out into nature. On your first trip to Bloomington will most likely consist of long hours m [...]
Sick at School
Michelle Balaun2020-09-29T14:38:19-04:00Mom…..I'm Sick... It’s bound to happen. At some point, while our kids are at college, the phone will ring and suddenly our mature, independent college s [...]
Off-Campus Living
Michelle Balaun2020-05-13T15:22:55-04:00…Economical to Extravagant, Off-Campus Apartments Galore Off-Campus living, after only one year in the dorm, your student may drop this on you. It happe [...]
Just Desserts!
Michelle Balaun2020-05-13T12:19:18-04:00Desserts, In a Good Way… Eating desserts first or getting your just desserts. Either way, desserts are often our favorite meal! Sometimes, we think the [...]
Away for the High Holidays
Michelle Balaun2020-10-02T14:58:36-04:00Celebrate High Holidays with a New Community Generally, students will go home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but for those who celebrate the upcoming J [...]
Is an A Grade Really an A in your GPA?
Michelle Balaun2020-06-24T15:52:29-04:00Those Pluses and Minuses Do Count in Your Grade! Of course, the grade you get is important! During my freshman year of college, I was elated when I rece [...]
Orient Yourself With These Orientation Tips
Michelle Balaun2020-05-13T15:35:24-04:00Orientation Overwhelm Potential Orientation, the beginning of the journey. If two nights and two days can make your head spin, these might be the two. I [...]
So You Want to Be an Indiana Hoosier
Michelle Balaun2020-10-28T12:37:32-04:00Of course, you want to be a Hoosier! I was a senior in high school visiting my best friend who was a Freshman at IU. I wasn’t even thinking about becomi [...]
Pets in school?
Michelle Balaun2020-11-10T13:42:24-05:00Take Your Pets (Dog Or Cat) to College! Pets bring so much love and joy to our lives, and there’s nothing like a good facetime with your dog when you’re [...]
Sorority Girl – The Inside Scoop
Michelle Balaun2020-10-02T16:40:38-04:00Sorority Life - It’s More Than Parties So now you have joined the sorority life, and oh is it a life to live. Being in a sorority does not only open you [...]
Places of Worship to Continue your Traditions
Michelle Balaun2020-09-10T17:39:50-04:00Keeping The Traditions of Worship If you’re wondering about keeping up the tradition of worship, here are some thoughts. Shortly after my daughter start [...]
Spring Break
Michelle Balaun2020-05-15T14:04:14-04:00Letting Off Steam Before Spring Finals It's Spring! If you're anything like me, you are putting together the cutest spring outfits, buying any bathing s [...]
Restaurants for a Delicious Dinner Time
Michelle Balaun2020-08-05T10:47:01-04:00Dinner, Early or Late! Here are some of the best restaurants Bloomington has to offer. From classics to food from all over the world. It is a true colle [...]
Stay Fit While In College It’s Smart!
Michelle Balaun2020-09-08T14:58:24-04:00It’s Easy to Stay Fit! Staying fit at college is good for grades, did you know that? This is near to my heart as I truly believe exercise is critical to [...]