Activities to Replace Summer 2020 Cancelled Events

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. When life gives you Covid-19, you make many adjustments in your life to help flatten the curve. Many of these adjustments include our upcoming summer 2020 plans including concerts, sports games, vacations, festivals, parades, and more. So how can you make the most out of summer, while the stay at home order and CDC guidelines are still in place? Here are some of my favorite at home activities that you can do just about anywhere, while maintaining a safe distance.

 

First, I am pretty sure we have all been doing this already, but streaming devices have been my life. When the weather is less than appealing, I hunker down in my comfy chair and blankets, and I watch shows and movies until I get hungry or tired. When this gets tiring or old, I grab a good book. Many authors have been releasing books, or when in doubt read an old classic. Stephanie Meyer is releasing a new book from Edward's perspective for all the millennials out there. 

Concerts have been cancelled or rescheduled due to the virus, but do not fret. Some artists have been performing on Instagram Live or through Zoom meetings with their band. Taylor Swift's Live from Paris concert will be uploaded to Hulu and Disney+ for our at home concert series. 

When the weather cooperates, sunbathing outside or taking a nap in my hammock are my go tos. Hey, why not watch one of those concerts while outside? It may not be the festival atmosphere you're use to, but it's still a good way to unwind!

Our favorite sports teams are starting their seasons back up, and although we cannot be in the stands, we can cheer from our family rooms while eating the same junk food snacks that cost an arm and a leg at a ballpark. No one will give you looks for cheering too loudly or giving your opinion to the referee who doesn't seem to listen to you.

A few more activities might include painting, coloring, puzzling, organizing everything, four-wheeling, socially distant hikes or picnics with friends, or playing Animal Crossing on the Nintendo Switch. 

Whichever you choose to do, this summer might not be as we planned, but we can still make the best of it in the current situation. Hopefully some of these ideas inspire you to try something new or start something old. 

Written by: LEANN FRANK, REBECCA ADELE PR AND EVENTS INTERN 

Graduating in Quarantine? How to make the most of virtual commencement!

As the month of May is quickly passing through, so are graduations! While this years' ceremonies and commencements are a little different than usual, it's easy to create a lasting memory for the senior in your life.

An easy way to celebrate with close friends and loved ones is a zoom commencement! Similar to Facetime, Zoom allows you to easily add friends and family to a chat room.  So why not add the whole class of 2020? Although seniors may not be able to walk across the stage, they can walk across their family room with all their friends cheering along side them.  A graduation ceremony memory to last a lifetime. 

As for grad parties, although there won't be a house full of classmates, you can still celebrate all the hard work your senior had done throughout the years with just a few easy steps.  The first and most important thing are decorations! Simple streamers, balloons and table cloths in your dining room can make the space memorable and fun.  For dinner, support local small business by ordering catering for the whole family. 

Besides a virtual commencement and a family sized grad party, there are still more fun ways to honor your grad.  Memory boards are an easy surprise to add to the celebration.  Pick out some of your grads' favorite memories from over the years, certificates of accomplishment, and whatever art work or other achievements your grad has done over their educational years.  

Coming from a family who has a graduating senior, my mom and I teamed up and tried something special for her.  We sent out a questionnaire to our friends and family asking 1. Your favorite memory you share with Grace (my sister) and 2. Any graduation wishes or life advice you wish to impart on the graduate? These were included with self addressed envelopes which we put together in a book with her graduation picture on the front.  Simple ideas can make a huge impact and lasting memory on the graduate, and they can keep them forever! 

Written by: ABBY WEESE, REBECCA ADELE EVENTS INTERN

Throwing the Perfect Graduation Party!

Summer isn’t just the season for going to the beach and vacations; it’s the party season! With the school year finishing up, many graduations will commence and with graduations come graduation parties. Instead of just throwing the same old graduation parties with a box for cards and a picture board outlining the significant events in the grad’s life, why not throw a graduation that’s truly memorable and unique? Don't know where to start? Here are some great ideas you can include in your bash!

Memory jars are a great way to get your guests involved and excited about the party. Set up a simple glass jar and a small sign instructing the guests to write down their favorite memory with the grad on a small slip of paper. It will get your guests talking and create a meaningful keepsake for the graduate to hold onto for years to come.

To avoid the typical picture boards that you see at every graduation party, try a picture wreath instead – or even a few of them! Just take a simple pool noodle and tape the ends together using duct tape. A piece of drop cloth can be wrapped around the noodle to disguise its color. From there, cut a piece of cardstock into the shape of a graduation cap and attach a button to the center to hold the grad’s actual tassel. Then add the graduate’s name and graduation year on top of the cap. Depending on the size of your wreath, you can choose between eight and 12 photos to place however you’d like. Once you gather your pictures, attach them to cardstock that matches the color of your cap and you can easily glue them to the wreath and wa-la! Your picture wreath is complete and creates not only a nice gift for the grad but also a more interesting display for your guests to enjoy.

Instead of having a large cake with only one or two flavors for your guests to choose from, try serving cupcakes! Cupcakes allow for you to decide how many are needed for the number of guests you intend on having as well as picking a variety of flavors to please everyone. This alternative also creates an opportunity to place the cupcakes in the shape of the graduate’s graduation year! It will be eye catching and much more appealing than a plain cake. 

Place your wreath or wreaths above the cupcake display with the memory jar on a nearby table and you already have yourself a memorable and creative graduation party sure to leave your guests and the grad talking about it for years!

Written by Shaylee Dillen of Rebecca Adele PR & Events

As the Summer Comes to an End..

Kara's Experience..

Intern: The coveted role that every college student strives to obtain.  Going into Christmas break of my Sophomore year, I was eager to begin the internship hunt.  At Ohio University, we have it drilled into our heads from day one that we need to get an internship in order to graduate.  I knew how important it is to have real-world experience, especially since I was about to be halfway through college.  It was during this internship search that I came across Rebecca Adele PR & Events. 

The first thing that attracted to me to this internship was the way Becki described the program.  While most internship descriptions were pretty cut-and-dry, Becki’s creative way of writing about daily roles made me feel like I would be a part of something fresh, unique, and exciting.  It is for these reasons that I was thrilled to become a part of Becki’s team!

Going into the internship, I had set goals of what I wanted to achieve.  I needed to build my own personal portfolio and have concrete examples of work in the PR field.  I believed that I would be able to obtain these goals, but I did not know how quickly they would be achieved! I was pleasantly thrilled that I was put to work right away, even on important aspects of Becki’s company such as press release writing and managing various social media accounts.

I not only enjoyed the responsibility that I was given, but also the environment that I was given to learn in.  It was great to have Becki right there to answer any kind of question and offer advice.  I loved being able to joke around in the office one minute, and the next be able to receive awesome real-world tips from Becki’s experience in the field. 

Overall, the experience I gained from this internship was better than anything I could have learned in a classroom.  It was the best place for me to begin my growth as a PR professional.  Although I will miss my Tuesday and Thursday mornings in the office, I leave the internship knowing I have a mentor I can count on-from joking about her being my mom or offering advice on how to write the best boilerplate for a press release.  My time at Rebecca Adele PR & Events will be greatly missed, but never forgotten!

Written by Kara Ferrara from Rebecca Adele PR & Events

Chloe's Experience...

Coming straight out of high school, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would land a position with a PR company.

My past two semesters with Rebecca Adele PR & Events (Summers 2014, 2015) has taught me so much about the PR world.  Looking back, I have grown so much and couldn’t be happier with confidence I have gained from this internship.  From not knowing how to write a press release to writing at least five of them in my period at Rebecca Adele seems amazing to me.  Also having never taken a college class about PR, from the beginning of my internship I felt like I was “thrown into the fire.”

And I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I am incredibly thankful to have begun my career path towards a PR professional with Rebecca Adele.  In addition to learning about social media, PR writing and event planning, it also helped confirm that this is the field I want to work in. 

When first meeting with my boss in February of 2014, I had asked to shadow her for a high school project.  Never was it my original intention to intern for her, but as luck would have it, here I am sitting at a desk in her office. 

This internship has been more valuable (and fun!) than any college class--sorry John Carroll!  As my internship comes to an end, I cannot wait for the next exciting opportunity that I will be faced with.  While I am leaving with more PR knowledge and experience, I am also leaving with a wonderful friendship with my boss/role model/friend Becki Silverstein. 

According to the dictionary, serendipity is defined as “luck that takes the form of finding valuable or pleasant things that are not looked for,” and I believe that perfectly sums up my time with Rebecca Adele PR & Events. 

Written by Chloe Slavin from Rebecca Adele PR & Events

Summer Intern Reflection Blogs- Jackie and Olivia

The End of an Internship; The Beginning of What’s Next!

By Jackie Miesle

The last ten weeks have flown by. At the beginning, I was a bright-eyed, eager, jet-lagged college junior just returning from a semester abroad. I was ready to start my internship and soak up all the knowledge, criticism and experience I could get my hands on. I wasn’t sure what exactly to expect, but I was ready to take on a new adventure.

Being a lover of all things creative, beautiful and positive, an internship with Rebecca Adele PR & Events was a gold mine for me. Within the first ten minutes of my first day, Becki had me writing a press release. I knew right then and there that this would not be a “coffee-run” internship – and I was just fine with that. I got to put my creative instincts to use as I wrote social media plans and found pictures and inventive content for client posts. Not many people can say they get to use Pinterest and Facebook for their job… But we’re lucky!

I have had countless learning experiences and opportunities for growth throughout this internship. I have learned about Public Relations in ways a textbook cannot explain. I have learned about social media and the power of content more than the amount of likes on a picture of me at the Louvre can teach me. I have sparked an interest in event planning and I’ve learned just how much time and detail is required to successfully plan an event. Most importantly, I have developed a voice and a presence as a young woman getting ready to enter the Public Relations profession; I have gained the confidence that this profession demands and I have every intention to use that to my advantage.

Now I am a college senior, filled to the brim with nerves and even more eager and enthusiastic than when I started. I am ready to face the year ahead and see where it takes me. I hope to get a job in or relating to Public Relations and Social Media. The uncertainty of my future is daunting, but I am confident that I will make my way and take on the unknown with a smile on my face.

I once said to Becki, while discussing what led me to this internship, “I couldn’t imagine a better fit for me.” She smiled and said “awww!” and even though it’s cheesy, I truly could not think of a better internship experience and I will always be grateful for the time I have spent working with Rebecca Adele PR & Events. A HUGE “thank you” to Becki for the incredible experience, for all the helpful guidance and for making our time so enjoyable with her wild, vibrant personality and kind, enthusiastic spirit.

On to the next adventure!

Jackie

Closing Time: A Reflection of My Time at Rebecca Adele PR & Events

By Olivia Marrali

My time at Rebecca Adele PR & Events is unfortunately coming to a close. This has been one of the most rewarding and fun experiences of my life.  I started this experience knowing I had a passion for PR, but I didn’t realize how deep my passion and love was.

This summer I was able to dive deep into different aspects of public relation and event planning and learn exactly what I love about it. From writing press releases to creating weekly social media posts for a wide variety of clients, I feel that I gained experience unlike any in the classroom.  The most rewarding part of my time here has been seeing my work published and different news outlets using my press releases for their own work. 

However, I feel the most valuable knowledge I gained is from watching and working with owner of Rebecca Adele, Becki. She is a strong and driven woman who owns three successful businesses. Can you say girl boss? She has taught me to be confident in my work and that it is possible to turn your hobbies into a career.

Upon graduation I hope to move to New York City and work in the public relations field. I am still undecided on what aspect of PR I want to work in, but Rebecca Adele PR & Events has greatly prepared me for any I may choose. 

I am so grateful for this experience and everything it has taught me, especially learning to love cats!

Written by Jackie Miesle & Olivia Marrali of Rebecca Adele PR & Events