Our New College Graduate, Briahnna - Go Gamecocks!

This past Saturday, our younger daughter Briahnna graduated from the University of South Carolina. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with Leadership Distinction in Diversity and Social Advocacy, and minors in Spanish and General Education. It feels like her four years in college went by super fast! 

Her graduation ceremony was one of the best we ever attended. Despite the packed venue, things ran smoothly and was over in just 2 hours. It was neat seeing her photo pop up on the big screen! There was even a special moment honoring Phylicia Rashad becoming a Doctor of Fine Arts. She is even more beautiful in person!  

We are one proud family! Briahnna will continue her graduate studies at the University of South Carolina. Go Gamecocks!

Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea Opening In Columbia This Summer

Columbia will soon be home to Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea at 1002 Park St. in the Empire building, near the University of South Carolina campus. The 1,895-square-foot café is set to open this summer and will offer a globally-inspired menu featuring premium coffees, teas, pastries, sandwiches, salads and more.

Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea to offer a destination for students and faculty at USC this Summer

Franchise owner, Greg Dodd, is excited to bring Sweetwaters’ unique atmosphere and quality ingredients to downtown Columbia. “Our global and Asian influence sets us apart. We have many beverages that aren’t found at your average coffee shop,” says Dodd. “We’re looking forward to becoming the go-to destination for college students, faculty and the greater downtown community.”

The Sweetwaters brand focuses on strong community engagement, such as hosting events for local clubs and student organizations and partnering with nonprofits, making it a perfect fit for the Vista location.

The Sweetwaters menu includes signature drinks such as the Dragon Eye, French Vietnamese au Lait, Napali Brew, Thai Iced Tea, and Red Moon coffee.

The grand opening will include numerous community events and week-long promotions that will be announced on Sweetwaters website and Facebook page. The Columbia Sweetwaters location is one of more than 100 expected to open across the country. 

Go back-to-school with SOL REPUBLIC Tracks Collegiate Series Headphones (Giveaway)

**Closed- Winner is Desmond W. Congratulations! 

I can't believe that in three weeks my kids will officially be back-to-school. The Summer has flown by like it always does and we are scrambling around getting prepared to head back. My oldest daughter will be starting her second year of college at the University of South Carolina and is very excited. She has already ordered her books and gotten some basic supplies and clothing. I always treat the kids to a small back-to-school gift to let them know I will miss them. This year my college girl is the happy recipient of some SOL REPUBLIC Tracks Collegiate Series  Headphones. Now she can show off her Gamecock pride with these very cool over-the-ear headphones.

I didn't even realize that SOL REPUBLIC offered headphones with head bands featuring over 100 different Universities from all over the country. Check out the full listing here. They retail for $129.99. This is perfect for sending your college student off to school or even for the college sports lover in your life. When you live in the South, college football is everything! My daughter absolutely loves these and the sound quality is outstanding. 

Even if you have your volume set mid-way, you will experience listening to music, audio-books or videos in a whole new way. The HD sound clarity and bass are astonishing. These block out most sounds around you to give you the ultimate, uninterrupted listening experience. Like the other Tracks over-the-ear headphones, the head band is interchangeable and practically indestructible. The speaker pads are super comfortable, especially for extended wear. These Tracks also have a Mic & Music controller and is compatible with most Apple, Android and Windows devices.

I guarantee you that your college student or even aspiring college student will LOVE these high-quality head phones for back to school! We already own a couple pairs of other SOL REPUBLIC head phones and are beyond satisfied with them. They are truly worth the money! You can purchase them directly from the SOL REPUBLIC site as well as participating Radio Shack stores. Stay connected with SOL REPUBLIC on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for product updates and promotions.

We are SO thrilled to give away one pair of these amazing SOL REPUBLIC Tracks Collegiate Series Headphones (in your choice of university available on the website & subject to availability) to one very lucky Mom Files *reader! Enter below: a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on August 9, 2014. Please follow giveaway rules in Rafflecopter widget. One winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email. Momfiles is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Good luck!
*If you have one a SOL REPUBLIC giveaway in the last 6 months from Mom Files, you will not be eligible to enter. 

Disclosure: I have received a complimentary pair of head phones from SOL REPUBLIC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own as always.

What advice would you give to a college freshman?

We knew the day would eventually get here. The day when our first child would go from elementary, middle and high school to college student. Our daughter will be attending the University of South Carolina and has opted to live at home. The incoming freshman class is the largest in the University's history with almost 5,000 students. That's a very large number, but as my husband puts it, "It's not about how many start, but how many actually finish".

Although our daughter is very intelligent and responsible, we still made it a point as parents to offer our guidance and support with her entering the adult world. Life is about to change quite a bit for her. I will no longer be packing her lunch, signing her papers or waiting in the carpool line. She will be doing things on her own. She is off to a great start as far as getting all of her business in order.

This weekend kicks off move-in day and there are various welcome activities for University students. We saw her off as she drove out of the front driveway. I won't lie, my heart sank just a bit. She's an adult and the high school days are over. With that said, this does not mean that rules no longer apply to her. We sat her down and went over our rules and expectations and she was able to voice her opinions on how she felt with everything. We spoke about many things, but here is a rundown of the main points:

• Driving safety is essential and not negotiable. Yes, you have your own car, but that does not mean you abuse it. You don't get to pick up and go or come in as late as you please. No rides should be given to just anyone. Never let anyone drive your car unless there is an emergency situation that affects your ability to drive. No texting or phone calls while driving. We just require a simple text or phone call to let us know your whereabouts. We pay for the car, insurance, gas and phone so this is not unreasonable. Failure to comply with our simple rules results in your mother dropping you off and picking you up. 
• Personal safety is another very important matter. Always be aware of your surroundings. Have your mace in hand when walking through the parking garage. Beware of who you associate with. Report anything that you know isn't right by law to campus police. Stay in good physical shape. Eating well and exercise are essential and should be taken seriously. You never know when you have to move quickly out of harm's way! 
• Not everyone is your friend! With the social media age comes "friendships" formed online. You don't know the real person just by his/her updates, tweets or Instagram pics. Stick with the people you know throughout the first year. Look at students you KNOW who are going into their second or third year for tips and advice that can be helpful. Not all advice is good advice. When in doubt, ask your parents. 
• Your social media presence is your digital resume. Watch what you post and the types of comments you leave on posts. Future employers scour through all social media sites to dig up what they can about you. Be mindful of that! It takes one suggestive picture to potentially tarnish your good name and even mess up your future. 
• Always have cash on hand. As easy as it is to use a debit card, it is not always the smartest choice. Around the college, there are dozens of businesses that sell products primarily to college students. With advanced technology in place, stealing your money has become so easy. Anyone can get access to the debit/credit card readers that attach to a smart phone/iPhone. You never know if someone is swiping your card behind your back! You have fewer worries with cash.
• DO NOT APPLY FOR CREDIT CARDS.  Buying on credit that you can't pay back ruins your financial future. On top of this, opening up several credit cards can hurt your credit, even without spending on credit. Avoiding credit malpractice is not hard, there are plenty of student resources available online that aim to about credit cards. For instance, did you know that your credit status is repairable no matter how ruined it is? It won’t happen overnight though. For now, pay with cash. You can slowly work your way up to establishing credit in a smart and organized way.
• We are here to help out if there is a NEED. Parties, sporting events and dining out will not be on our dime. 
• Of course we touched on the drugs, alcohol and sex topic. She hated it, but what can you do?

In the end of our conversation, we stressed how proud we are of her and that we just her to be happy and successful. We let he know that we are always around and are happy to lend our advice and support. Our daughter felt our rules were reasonable and has agreed to comply. Maybe it was the part about having her mother pick her up and drop her off? Hahaha! We feel like she will do well and sets very high standards for herself. 

If you have any advice you would give to a college freshman, what would it be? Do you have any advice for the parents as well? I would love to hear your thoughts!