5 things parents can do to ace college move-in day!

1  Be smart about packing.  Look at your child’s housing packet to learn about the university’s fire codes. They may prohibit hot pots, coffee makers* with exposed heating elements, and toasters. Some may also restrict string lights and extension cords. Why bring stuff that is prohibited only to have to haul it home? *Many DO allow Keurig-type coffee makers, which do

Emotional about launching your college student? You are not alone!

When did it happen? When did our kids grow up? I went from college and my first “real” job to marriage and then babies, who grew from toddlers to teens in a nanosecond. A household where diapers, lullabies, and training wheels turned into thongs, indie rock, and driver’s ed. Who knew I’d long for the days of chicken nuggets with

Cha-Ching! Discussing Money With Your College Student

Parents, if you’re like me, you realize that many things about college have changed since your coed days. College is big business. It’s not like the old days. Back then, if you had a pulse and a checkbook, you were accepted. Today, college is much more competitive. And expensive. That’s true for tuition and room and board, but it’s also

#RealLifeWonderWoman – Meet Lisa Erwin

I sat down in the auditorium for a parent orientation session–this time not as the keynote speaker or college parenting expert, but as a mom. A mom who was launching her youngest child. A mom who knows all-too-well the bittersweet feeling of letting go. Then SHE walked on the stage, her warm smile and bright eyes calming the nervous parents

#RealLifeWonderWoman–Meet Chrissy Gaetke

She’s bold. She’s bright. She can leap tall buildings in a…wait! Well, maybe she can’t leap buildings, but she can eloquently and professionally report the local news and interview guests on live radio. She’s got the gift of gab and knows how to use it. Today’s #RealLifeWonderWoman is living her dream as a news reporter and talk show host. I had

How do I keep my college student safe?

You survived move-in day. Your student is engaging in college life. You are at home missing the flurry of activities and perhaps even the backpack on the hallway floor or the dirty dishes on the counter. Even though you are excited for your child, that doesn’t mean you don’t worry. You’ve seen awful news stories and heard of kids making

#RealLifeWonderWoman – Meet Mariellen Jacobs

In January, 2015, Mariellen Jacobs was in a place no mother wants to be…at her child’s bedside as he’s fighting for life. Her son Clark, a second-year mechanical engineering student, had been asleep in his fraternity house when he fell from his loft bed to the floor. He crawled back up into his bed and went back to sleep. But

Big Announcement Today!

I’m so excited, I can hardly stand it! Today is THE DAY that I get to tell you about a spectacular partnership and show you what can happen when two crazy entrepreneurial gals put their heads together.  For a couple of years, I’ve been dreaming about providing you some tangible products to help parents and students stay connected through the

Packing for college–what you need to know for smooth sailing on move-in day

Moving into the dorm room is one of your child’s first fleeting steps into collegiate life. What can you, as a parent, do to help make this transition a smooth one? Follow the 3 BEs! Here are some tried and true tips for smooth sailing on move-in day taken from Out to Sea: A Parents’ Survival Guide to the Freshman