Finally, February! January was certainly a doozie…so many exciting things, but how was it only 31 days!? Second semester is well underway for the kids, which means the final countdown for our son is really on now! Cue the anxiety and permanent lump in my throat.
He’s still waiting on news from a few more colleges, then it’s decision time! We’ll probably visit a couple campuses again, so I’m praying one really stands out for him, so he’ll have peace and excitement with his decision. Until then, we’ll continue to savor each day of this Senior year. Any advice from you mamas would be greatly appreciated!
Today we’re taking a peek back at popular posts from December and January. Some weeks days it seems I’m doing nothing but chasing a To Do List, or playing catch-up, so it’s nice to take a moment each month and look back at the projects and content I managed to create. I never got around to recapping December, so here’s what’s been going on around here for the past two months.
Well obviously I have to lead with this one…certainly the biggest, most exciting…the launch of our Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Resort Collection! This is our second Collection with Gibson, and you fully-embraced it! Many of the pieces sold out the first day, and your excitement was truly palpable. I’m excited to share what’s coming next! (Stay tuned for restock and reorder info later this week, too!)
I didn’t tackle the launch of Resort on my own, I had a whole tribe of beautiful women supporting it! It Takes a Village shared many of the women, all shapes and sizes, in their favorite Resort pieces.
Shooting a Collection of 45 pieces is no easy task, but it’s tons of fun! Now that you’ve seen all the pieces, it’s fun to peek back at the Behind-the-Scenes of the photoshoot!
Obviously I couldn’t do it without my Mama Sugarplum, and we included a Dressing Room Diaries version of the full Collection…sharing how she wears each piece, along with multiple styling ideas for each.
Our Guest Room got a major update with the addition of some really fun, graphic wallpaper. I’ve been a fan of this paper for ages and was so excited to find a spot for it in our house. Now we’re thismuch closer to a finished room!
We’ve been talking all things Resort lately…in the middle of a Polar Vortex, no less! If you’re still freezing your buns off, here are some of my favorite Cozy Winter finds.
Marks & Spencer rolls out some of the best new arrivals so frequently that they’ve quickly become one of my go-to retailers. And it looks like you’re loving them, too! Their price points are amazing, shipping is free and fast, and the styles so cute. This post featured 8 Darling Sweaters Under $40.
Proof that I can wear neutrals…I styled them 2 Ways, along with tips on finding luxury bags for less!
Our travel calendar is filling up fast, and I shared the first post of the year in this Great Stays feature on La Serena Villas in Palm Springs. With the stellar service, jaw-dropping design-details, and the cutest little breakfast baskets, it’s definitely one of my top 5 hotels we’ve ever stayed.
Mama Sugarplum made a blog appearance and we shared our favorite way to spend an afternoon together, along with some cozy and colorful Winter styles.
My One Word for 2019 came at me hard and fast, and is definitely going to be a work in progress for me.
Running low on Winter outfit ideas? Here’s two easy-to-recreate looks, and both super affordable!
I shared my top 5 Tips for a Better Night Sleep…my tried-and-true method for the best possible sleep. Next up, I need to tackle going to bed earlier!!
Curious what the most popular buys were for Hi Sugarplum readers last year? I rounded up the Top 10 in this post, and no surprise, your faves are all mine, too!
Christmas is packed up for another year, but you might want to add our Christmas Home Tour to your Pinterest boards for inspiration later!
Giving back is a major theme in our household, and one of the most important lessons I want to instill in our kids. I shared a few of the ways we do that as a family in this post.
I share a lot of things here, but there are a handful that my tried-and-true, go-to, daily finds. I rounded up all my Favorite Things in this post. Are any of them on your list?
We also had another round of Sugarplum Style, and everyone’s favorite, Dressing Room Diaries, featuring tons of new finds, and recent outfits (and Mama Sugarplum!). We also brought back the popular Q & A post, You Ask, I Answer. I’m hoping to make it a regular around here.
Long Cardigan | Tee | White Jeans | Sunglasses | Ring | ‘Love’ Bracelet | Cuff
And finally, everyone’s favorite monthly post…my Amazon Fashion Finds for December and January!
February is sure to be another fun one! Mr. SP and I have a little warm-weather getaway next week, followed by a family ski trip to Winter Park Resort! Did you know they were just awarded North America’s Number 1 Ski Resort?!
We’re so excited to finally see some snow this season (they got 5-feet of new snow in January!), and experience all the fun in that darling Colorado town. Have you been? I’d love any tips and suggestions for the area! Plus tips on what we need to pack for serious Winter weather!
Thank you so much for stopping by when you do…your support and comments mean the world to me! Happy February, lovebugs!
here are some good places to start:
So many great photos and styles.
Guarantee a certain song will pop up on the radio, and you’ll start to cry because it will remind you of your son, and he’s growing up and leaving! Promise you’ll get thru it!
Start dorm $hopping now (list is on college websites), the shelves empty super fast.
And yes, go and take a second look/visit. Let the colleges know you are there, “demonstrated interest” is a biggie.
How exciting!!
Hi C:
My third child is a senior this year…I do have one recommendation! After a decision is made by your son, go back to that campus again. This has worked with my older college grads…so he can walk the campus with knowing this is where he will be. It’s a different walk, a different attitude that they possess…and a clincher (or at last min not!)
It worked with our other kids because what you want is for them to invest in to the four yr experience and not call you mid year of freshman year to say, “Ummm. I think I may have made a mistake…”. Just a thought!
Your new collection of resort wear is darling! Love those striped pants! Just wanted to say I am the mom of 2 sons and remember well what you are going through with your son’s senior year. It was such a happy/sad year, I know exactly how you are feeling. It is going to get harder the closer he gets to leaving and those first couple of weeks without them are difficult!! Then, thankfully, you start to adjust and life takes on a new normal and their trips home are excitedly anticipated and so sweet! Each time they leave again, it hurts. I always got busy and washed his sheets and made his room perfect for his next time home. That helped distract me that first hour he left the house. There are benefits like less laundry, less groceries, etc. Not gonna lie, it’s hard to not see them daily. When you are totally an empty nester, it gets pretty sweet to have your freedom with your spouse, but I think you are already getting those moments so you are pretty fortunate already! Take pride in the fact that you did your job and you launched a wonderful young man into the world. 🙂
https://www.mylifetree.com/release-grip-mothers-prayer-college-drop-off/
SO SO hard to drop your firstborn off at school. It was so much more emotional than I ever expected. I truly felt like I was grieving. But their happy voices on the end of the line certainly help ease the pain.
Hi Cassie,
Congratulations on ur collection and enjoy the senior year and saviour every moment and each day. The day that he leaves will be the HARDEST and teary eye . It will take about 3 months or more for you to feel good about him gone. But, know that you can always Skype or text him😊 and visit . He is learning to spread his wings and explore what the world has to offer. You did an amazing parenting job on him. So, trust your instincts and trust him that he will make the right choices. As long as your there emotionally and physically when he needs you he will be fine. Also, respect his space. Which every campus he chooses, do a campus tour to fine where things are and asks if first year will have someone to show them around. I hope this helps and All the Best to you and your family on this wonderful journey😊
I knew there would be great comments on this one! Remember, whatever school he chooses, he has to “own it”, no one else. A very expensive, time consuming mistake for them to change their minds. As long as they are moving forward, I say.
Then get his essential living stuff down, doing laundry w/o ruining their clothes, housecleaning, banking, cooking their favorite foods, (some colleges will even take requests and cook it for homesick students (sloppy joes, etc.).
They get super busy, and even busier as the semester goes on. So let him set the ground rules for when to talk/skype. Send cards, letters, funny emails as I do believe students get a little lonely at times. Once he gets the pace and workload down, I think you’ll find a really happy kid. Your reward and his.
Oh….one more thing I tell kids-always take an apple, orange, and banana off the food line, and put it in your backpack for later. You will get hungry. I also think that guys may need the bigger, higher priced food plan, ha,ha! : ) Exciting times ahead!
Ah yes! We are in the same place.. decision making time! After my son received his acceptance letters from his top two schools, we revisited them both. We were very surprised at how willing the schools were to set up meetings with department heads and advisors in the programs he is interested in. My son came away with a much clearer picture of the possibilities within his chosen field and I think it actually took a lot of the stress away about making a ‘wrong’ decision. We still have a little work to do around HIM being OK with leaving.. he is my homebody! But as others have mentioned, it is his decision and he has to own it! Great BIG MAMA hugs! It is a bittersweet time indeed!
I have four, two are in college and two more in high school. Sigh….it’s so hard. Each one leaving had a different effect on the dynamic of our family, and when the next one goes and there is only one sibling I know it’s going to be hard on our fourth. I’m guessing the same for your little miss. We make a big effort to keep all four connected – a couple fun weekend visits a year, lots of phone calls and a well timed visit home have done wonders for the younger ones, they really miss the college kids (and vice versa) maybe more even then we do! Also, both of mine insisted they were “having a blast” through most of freshman year and then finally admitted how hard that first year was to adjust. Not even schoolwork but finding new “real” friends, dorm mates, making grown-up choices, and missing home. When they found their groove by sophomore year it was so much better for them and us. Now it’s much less worry and more just excitement at all the opportunities and fun things they’re being exposed too. When they’re happy we’re happy right? 🙂