The Best Places to Study at USF
Michelle Balaun2019-01-24T13:46:59+00:00The Best Places to Study at USF Just when we get our high schoolers into a routine of studying, they now have to learn to adjust their habits to fit col [...]
They’ve Been Accepted
Michelle Balaun2018-10-12T15:58:24+00:00They’ve Been Accepted Congratulations on Becoming a Bull! You made it! Accepted! I mean, they made it, but it sure feels like we, as parents did a lot o [...]
Retail Therapy
Michelle Balaun2019-02-07T17:08:14+00:00Retail Therapy Shopping, one of my favorite things to do. And in Tampa, there are plenty of great places to get your retail therapy in. Yes, your stud [...]
Storage USF
Michelle Balaun2019-01-24T15:04:08+00:00Where Will They Put All Their Stuff? Now that the craze of prepping, shopping, and organizing the carloads of stuff that you send your college kid to sc [...]
Care Packages
Michelle Balaun2018-09-19T17:16:28+00:00Care Packages So, your college student has been away and you and your family are getting used to your new normal. Even though your student is busy with [...]
Home Sweet Dorm
Michelle Balaun2018-09-19T17:15:52+00:00Home Sweet Dorm You may be surprised at how one can transition a mass-produced, industrial-looking dorm room into a warm and inviting room or suite. An [...]
Shopping Guide for New Students
Michelle Balaun2018-09-19T17:15:07+00:00Top 7 Categories Of What They Need! Back to school-college is the second biggest consumer spending season right behind winter holiday season. Parents ex [...]
Sorority Girl
Michelle Balaun2018-08-05T11:13:49+00:00Sorority Girl Not being in a sorority myself, although I was a Little Sister for a fraternity at USF, having my daughter become a sorority girl was a ne [...]
Moving In, It Just Got Real
Michelle Balaun2018-08-05T11:13:50+00:00Moving In Once your student has been given their move-in date and dorm or residence assignment, the process of handling what can be a stressful, labor-i [...]
Move-In Day
Michelle Balaun2018-12-03T15:11:30+00:00Move-In Day Means - M.I.D USF’s move-in day is…well…a lot of work. Be prepared for many trips to the car and possibly one or two to the store for the i [...]
Thrift Shops for the Thrifty!
Michelle Balaun2019-01-08T15:11:04+00:00When You Need to Be Thrifty and Stay on Budget Thrifting isn’t just a hot trend right now, it’s an amazing way to stay in style while saving money. In c [...]
Sorting Out College Life- A Guide to Laundry, Dry Cleaning & Alterations
Michelle Balaun2019-01-24T13:27:39+00:00Laundry Never Ends! Every mom has thought or said this a million times, and now our college kids are (hopefully) learning the tedious task of doing thei [...]
What NOT to Bring to College
Michelle Balaun2018-08-05T11:16:17+00:00Do You Really Need It? Ok, I have only sent one child to college, but it really only takes one send off to learn the ins and outs of what a freshman col [...]
Working While in College
Michelle Balaun2018-12-08T12:06:17+00:00Working While in College To Work or Not to Work? Each family will decide on the needs of their student, but about half of all college students have at l [...]
Care Packages for when they get sick
Michelle Balaun2018-09-17T17:09:24+00:00Show You Care for Them Get ready, because at around one month in, you may get that dreaded call that your child is sick. It’s hard because suddenly, yo [...]
Favorite Apartment Rentals
Michelle Balaun2019-01-24T15:01:11+00:00Favorite Apartment Rentals Not Your Momma’s Apartment Just when you think you have your student all settled in the dorms, chances are that you will be h [...]
An Insider’s Guide to Living on Campus
Michelle Balaun2019-01-24T14:55:22+00:00Learn the Best Way to Manage Your Housing. One of the first decisions you need to make after being accepted to USF is housing. You need to put in your h [...]
Roommates and Residential Life
Michelle Balaun2018-08-05T11:13:50+00:00Roommates and Residential Life For many students entering college, this may be their first time away from home for an extended period of time. Wh [...]
The First Few Weeks
Michelle Balaun2019-01-24T14:25:13+00:00We completed the drop. We unloaded the car in the treacherous Florida heat and we set up their rooms. The bed was made, everything had been put away and [...]
I’m Not Your Maid: Cleaning Services
Michelle Balaun2018-09-19T17:14:31+00:00Maybe It's Not A Luxury, But A Necessity? Ok, let me start by saying that yes, my children know how to clean their rooms and bathrooms. Do they like to [...]
Transportation -Getting There
Michelle Balaun2019-02-07T17:22:38+00:00Getting There – Transportation To and From Tampa The first time you drop your student off at college can be both stressful and exciting. Planning is th [...]
Orient Yourself
Michelle Balaun2018-08-05T11:20:50+00:00Orient Yourself Your child has been accepted to USF! Congrats! The first thing you need to do is to sign up for Orientation. Both you and your student [...]
Moving Out
Michelle Balaun2018-08-05T11:13:03+00:00Moving Out There is so much anticipation and prep involved with moving our kids INTO college, but not as much thought about moving them OUT. Moving the [...]
Are Your Student’s Valuables Protected? Are they safe?
Michelle Balaun2018-09-19T17:16:43+00:00Are Your Student’s Valuables Protected? As we were preparing my daughter for college, one of the most popular subjects discussed on my parent Facebook p [...]
After the Hurricane
Michelle Balaun2018-08-05T11:13:00+00:00After the Hurricane - Getting Back to “Normal” Prior to Hurricane Irma, our blog talked about hurricanes that had impacted Florida. It had been twelve [...]
Exam Care Packages
Michelle Balaun2018-10-05T15:50:29+00:00Surprise Them With a Box of Love! Midterm and final exams can be some of the biggest stressors for your student. I typically do not get to speak to my d [...]
Pets
Michelle Balaun2018-08-05T11:13:03+00:00Pets If you are a pet-friendly family, like we are, then you understand the struggle of your kid leaving, not only home, but also their pet. It can be [...]