Dining During Work/Rush Week!
So…there is some food availability if you have time between rush parties! Here is a little chart with dining options that are available. The University of Arkansas Dining on Campus hasn’t updated past Wednesday, August 7th. I’ll update when it catches up!
Sorority Walk Map Chart!
Are you wondering how long it will take to get to each sorority from your daughter’s dorm or apartment? Here is a fun chart so she can plan how far in advance to start walking! Remember there is a steep hill from Adohi & Pomfret up the hill toward the sororities…so it’s a little slow going unless your legs are in shape! Wear comfy shoes for the walk, then she can change shoes at the top of the hill if she’d like!
Sorority Map for University of Arkansas
Are you looking for a perfect map for your daughter for rush this year? Here is a free downloadable map for you to print for her! It includes all dorms, nearby apartments, parking garages, and of course…the sorority houses for this year’s RUSH WEEK! Alpha Phi now has a presence on campus, but they will have rush after formal rush week. They plan to build a house near PiPhi, and they’ll be included next year for formal rush, how exciting!!
Just click to download and print! I’ll be happy to email you a copy if you’d like! Just go to the menu (hamburger in the upper left corner), click on Contact Me, and send me a quick message with your email or phone number if you’d like a text!
Hope this helps! Holly
Rush Style Shorts!
Need some ideas? Your girls will receive a cute t-shirt for each day of Rush Week, but they’ll want to make it their own to stand out! They can French tuck the front, tuck it all in, roll the sleeves if they like, and of course, they’ll want some super cute original bottoms to match! Shorts are nice (read: modest) since they’ll be sitting in chairs with members at their feet/knees chatting & interviewing them. Remember, Pref Day is semi-formal dress! : )
Cute Shorts/Skirts:
Here are some really cute ones that would go with a variety of t-shirts! (And you can click on each photo to take you to the link!)
Dorm Room Decor
Is your student headed to college this fall? It’s only about a month away, and time to start dorm shopping! What cool new decor items do they need? (We’ll handle essentials in a minute, that’s an entirely different post!)
5 Essentials for College Freshmen!
I’ve moved a couple kids to college now (and now I have another senior in high school…so I’m only a year away from a THIRD 😅). I’m by no means an expert..especially since all kids are different! But here is what my kids have needed (and used) the most:
1️⃣ Bedding. Boys don’t care what kind. A fitted sheet and a big quilt make them happy. They won’t wash it all year, but don’t worry. You can throw them away at the end. Don’t spend too much on them. Girls? They buy sheets, duvet, a throw blanket, and alll the pillows...
Polling Parents
I did an informal poll last year. I was trying to determine how my business could grow, yet still maintain customer satisfaction. I’ve been experiencing growing pains (in a good way!) over the past couple of years. I’m in an interesting market-my customers are mostly moms my age, but my delivery audience is their kids (college kids)! So that’s one thing keeping me on my toes, haha! (I finally figured out TikTok though…it only took me a year!)
Birthday Gifts!
Yay! Almost your sweet student’s birthday! What to get them? I have a few ideas!
Turning 21 is super exciting, but we don’t always want to send our kiddos alcohol. It might mark the beginning of the legal drinking age, but that doesn’t mean they will enjoy it…or that we want to condone drinking.
I have a fun Arkansas lottery scratch-off ticket arrangement, large 34” numbered foil balloons, and 21 of ANYthing (reasons you love them, Hershey bars, $5 bills, Office memes, bracelets, La Croix cans, Paper mate flair pens, pairs of socks, balloons, flowers, 21 of literally ANY thing they love!). And if that doesn’t work for you, some custom sugar cookies, a Nothing Bundt cake, Great American Cookie Cake, grazing box, or a painted champagne bottle with a big bow might work!
Freshman Struggle
I’ve gifted, visited, and hugged an exceptional number of students struggling this year. I know they each feel alone, stranded, and they’re beginning to feel desperate. The rush of decorating their room is over, the homework has set in, and Christmas break seems so far away.
As difficult as it seems, they need to talk to people. SO many students are feeling the exact same way. Talk to people on the elevator, open your dorm door, prop it open, and invite people over for an xbox competition, a tray of cookies, or hilarious game of New Phone, Who ‘Dis? They could start a study group, make dinner in the dorm kitchen (most have a fully-stocked kitchen with pots/pan/dishes you can sign up to use!), or go by the HPER to workout or join a class!
Coming Changes…
I have this amazing business consultant. We used to conference at least one to two times a week (or more if needed) when I was building a business, a website and social media accounts. She and her intern helped me with a market analysis, and all the things I needed most. Now, I’m not a baby entrepreneur any more, and I don’t talk to her as much, because I know her time is valuable! She’s still always available, but I’m more independent now. : )
When we last talked, she gave me it to me straight. Keeping all areas of mom help open has been fun, but tough. My largest customer base is college parents. And she gave it to me straight-I need to eliminate the other areas. That means dropping my moms of infants and moms of growing kids. She said she knew the day we met what my focus should be-but I love to say yes to allll the moms! (I remembered how hard it’d been for me as an early mom-and a working mom.)
Apartment Move-In
Is your college student ready to move from home (or a dorm or sorority house) into an apartment…on their own? It’s a crazy transition time, and we’re living it! We are getting ready to help our daughter move out at the end of the month. She has an apartment with some friends, and my son has done this…but I’m trying to help her remember all the things she’ll need!
College Prep
Do you have a student getting ready for college? Might I suggest less ACT or SAT prep..and more life readiness? I have seven areas I might suggest working on this summer: managing money, laundry, healthy eating, time management, manners, how to study, and safety. ACT gets them in the door, and might help with a scholarship, but lets’s help them successfully adult!
Party Planning
Is your May as busy as mine? We have birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, end-of-year concerts, baby showers, and teacher appreciation to name a few! If I can streamline a few events (or decorate for multiple events), it helps with me with party planning prep time.
If I have more than one event within a few days, I look for ways to plan for both. I find a color scheme that matches both, and sometimes even multiply or replicate the menu (only the guests invited to both events would know…haha)!
Graduation
You know your student better than anyone else. What do they truly need? What will remind them of home? Find a way to gift them with that love. And maybe throw in a little something for yourself-this will probably be harder on you than them.
Valentine’s Day!
I don’t know about you, but I’m already thinking about Valentine’s Day! Pink, red, hearts, love…all my favorites! Here are just a few of my favorite free valentines that you and your child can make together! Your college student may even want to make a few for their friends..and I totally gave my teacher friends some valentines! (Hershey’s hugs and kisses are always welcome!!)
Simmering Potpourri
I can spruce up the water while it humidifies my space! Try adding clementine or apple slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, cranberries, vanilla, or even essential oils you love! Apples, oranges or orange peels, a touch of cinnamon and vanilla are my favorite. If you don’t want it to make you hungry, you can even add coffee beans, sprigs of cedar or pine, mint, or lemon extract (not all together, haha!).
Date Night in Northwest Arkansas
Because January is such a cold, indoor time here in Arkansas, it’s harder for me to schedule a date night for you on my website! I look for inexpensive concerts, local events, and restaurants that offer good deals, or where I can schedule/provide dessert and coffee or drinks. I love to throw in flowers for the ladies and give some guidance for dress..since the events are usually a surprise!
Kids Lunch Favorites!
We have a standard lunch that the kids like best, but I like to change it up when I have time! The standby is peanut butter and jelly, a yogurt drink or Capri Sun, bag of chips/popcorn (from the multi-pack bag!), fruit (applesauce if we don’t have any fresh fruit left!) and whatever veggies we have. If I have time, I throw in a couple Hershey’s miniatures, or three Oreo thins in a tiny little 2 oz. cup.
NYE Party Plan
New Year’s Eve has to be the coolest birthday. Everyone is dying to party with you! My mom’s birthday is December 31st, and I know one other sweet mom with a NYE birthday too! This year is a big milestone birthday for my mom, so we plan to party till midnight (or until we all fall asleep, haha!)
Charcuterie Boards
Need a crash course to make your own charcuterie board? Here is the accumulation of what I’ve learned!
Meats, cheeses, fruits, veggies, cornichons, nuts, dips, and breads/crackers/pretzels. Here are the details: