Things I am looking forward to about going back to campus, and things I’m not excited about!

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With winter break coming to a close, everyone I see in my hometown has asked me the same question: “Are you excited to go back to school?!” The short answer is yes! There are a lot of things I’m looking forward to about the second semester, but leaving feels like August all over again. I feel much better about leaving now that I know what to expect about college. I’ve compiled a list of things I am excited about, and some things I am not so excited about.

Things I am excited about for semester 2:

  1. Seeing my roommate!
  2. Seeing my friends!
  3. New classes
  4. Routine
  5. Freedom again (no chores like at home)
  6. Seeing Sal from Impractical Jokers live!

Things that I am nervous about/not excited to have happen during semester 2:

  1. Twin bed in my dorm
  2. Dining hall food (it’s not bad, I just prefer eating at home and making my own food)
  3. I’m nervous about new classes and not knowing what to expect
  4. I’m going to miss my puppies and my family
  5. I won’t be home until March

Every semester has the good and the bad, and I’ve learned to embrace all of it.

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How I stay warm walking to class (even in the snow!)

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Hey Hawkeyes (and future Hawkeyes)!

I decided to compile a small list of things that I do to stay warm while walking to class in the winter. Some mornings, it sounds way too tempting to skip class because of the cold weather, luckily I haven’t given in to the temptation yet.

  1. Invest in a LONG coat.
    Like, seriously long coat. The coat that I have goes down to my ankles, I call it my sleeping bag! These are so nice because they cover your entire body, not just your torso. Bonus points are added if the coat has a hood because it can start to snow unexpectedly, and you’ll want to keep your head dry and warm. The North Face and Aritzia are common coat brands you’ll see on campus because they are such great quality.
  2. Mittens
    I keep a pair of waterproof winter mittens in my backpack for walking to class. They keep my hands warm and I don’t have to stuff my hands in my pockets every time I step outside. I’ve noticed the waterproof mittens are better and keep me warmer than the knit ones.
  3. No exposed skin
    Being from Minnesota, this was always a good rule of thumb when you go snowmobiling, sledding, or skating, but not everyone is from the Midwest! It’s very important to keep all of your skin covered, especially on windy days. I do this by making sure I wear appropriate socks and long sleeves under my coat. Another great thing to wear are mini boots, they are super cute and keep your feet warm!

These are my 3 biggest tips, stay warm out there!

 

 

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My favorite thing ever: concerts!

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If you have ever talked to me, you know my favorite thing in the entire world is concerts. I have been to over 20! Even during my first semester of college, I was able to catch a few concerts. There’s a venue about an hour from Iowa City in Moline, Illinois, where I saw Dierks Bentley for only $2! I also saw one of my favorite artists, Quinn XCII in La Crosse, Wisconsin back in October. One thing that I found super cool about U Iowa is they do a homecoming concert every year! I wasn’t able to go this year, but I am super excited for when they announce who’s playing next year. In 2018, Lizzo was the headliner, which is so cool. In 2013, they had Kendrick Lamar at the IMU. I’m hoping for a big name for 2025!

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My first experience with finals week

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Hi everyone!

It’s so hard to believe that I’m already done with my first semester of college! With the first semester wrapping up, I also experienced my first finals week and dead week of college. Dead week is what we call the week before finals start. If I’m being honest, I thought dead week was worse than finals week. I dislike exams (who doesn’t) so I was pretty stressed out during this period of the semester. Something that I didn’t know before coming to college was that dead week is the last week of class, so it was nice to not have to worry about classes during finals. Luckily, I only had to take one final exam this semester. Instead, I had a ton of projects and essays to finish. The way I stayed motivated through the last two weeks of the semester was rooted in staying active and staying out of the dorm as much as possible. I made an effort to get to the gym, even if it was just a long walk on the treadmill. I focused on studying in places that were not my room. I spent a lot of time at Java House, Encounter Cafe, the Burge Hall basement, and Tippie College of Business. Pacing my studying and starting on all of my projects/essays/studying early was a game changer. I started studying over two weeks in advance for my huge cumulative final, and it really paid off! I am thankful for only having one final for my first semester of college.

I hope everyone had a great finals season, and is ready for a long winter break!

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Fun things to do (even when it gets cold!)

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Since it’s getting cooler outside- and dark very early! I wanted to share 3 things my friends and I have been doing to stay busy and have fun!

  1. Going to the Coral Ridge Mall

    I love driving here with my friends, but if you don’t have a car, you can take the (free) bus! There are a ton of places to shop, and a lot of different food options. I love being able to go to a full-size Target every once and a while :).

  2. Dorm movie nights!

    My friend has a TV in her room, so it’s really fun to hang out and watch things together. Especially when there are special things like SNL, presidential debates, or something new on Netflix. My roommate and I just ordered a projector and we are so excited to start using it!

  3. Going to a movie theater

    There are a few movie theaters nearby, and super fun to shake things up every once in a while. The Sycamore Theatre even has a DippinDots vending machine!

Have a great week everyone!

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Dorm breakfasts

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Hi guys! Some high school friends asked me what I usually have for breakfast before class. I don’t usually go to the dining hall for breakfast because I don’t want a ton of food, and it’s easier to stay in my pajamas in my room. Making breakfast with the tools in a dorm room is really easy. Here’s a list of my favorite things to have for breakfast that are dorm-friendly!

  1. Apple slices and peanut butter
    This is the easiest ever. I get a bag of apples from Target downtown and a jar of peanut butter. Super quick and easy!
  2. Chia seed pudding
    This one requires a little bit of planning, but just the night before. All you have to do is mix chia seeds with milk, almond milk, oat milk, etc., and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight. The best part about this is you can put whatever you want on top of it, so it’s different every time. I like berries, coconut shreds, peanut butter, and honey.
  3. Oatmeal
    I get the protein packs from Target and use almond milk to mix with. This is super easy and keeps me full for a long time.
  4. Protein shakes
    I love getting protein shake packs because I can take them to class with me or have them on the way to class! These are a lot healthier than having alternative quick drink options.
  5. Pancake in a cup
    Kodiak makes a “protein flapjack in a cup” and they are so good! Super easy to pop in the microwave. One cup has 10g of protein!

Thats all I have for today! Happy (almost) fall break!

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Finding things to look forward to

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The semester has started to shake off the excitement and become routine. Now that the 9th week of classes has begun, it’s important to remember things you are excited about! I like to look up things going on and look forward to it. Even if it’s something small, I try to find something to be excited about every day. Usually, it’s just a phone call to a friend, something in the dining hall, a coffee, or watching my favorite show at the end of the day. It’s also very fun to have concert tickets or a weekend home to look forward to! Iowa City has a whole host of things to do all the time. All you have to do is look up “What’s going on in Iowa City this weekend?” Just this weekend there is a pet Halloween costume show, comedy shows, trivia downtown (almost every night), a craft bazaar, a flea market, and so much more. Having a mix of small and big things to look forward to has been the key to maintaining a good balance between schoolwork and having lots of fun during my first semester of college.

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My favorite places to study in Iowa City!

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In honor of midterms that have already come and gone, I have done a lot (and I mean A LOT) of studying around campus and downtown. I have found that its very unproductive to study in my dorm room as I love talking to my roommate and often get distracted with other things. I find it really beneficial to study outside of my dorm. Sometimes spending too much time in my room can make it feel like I never leave! I’ve done a lot of exploring and here are some of my favorite places to catch up and get ahead on schoolwork!

Java House

This place is my absolute favorite because of the outdoor patio. There is plenty of seating for indoor or outdoor studying. It’s connected to the Heirloom Salad Company, so there are lots of options for salads, sandwiches, coffee, or a pastry.

Main Library

This one is basic, but I do love the campus’ Main Library. It’s super nice to have the Food for Thought Café, where you can use a flex meal or grab a Starbucks! The library offers a quiet and productive space to get work done, and it’s very close to all of my classes!

Poindexter Coffee

Poindexter is located on the lower level of the Graduate Hotel. I love this place because it looks like a cave inside and it’s always quiet. My friends and I love to study here together!

Burge Hall

The basement of Burge has tons of tables, booths, study rooms, and a few whiteboards. This has been great for working on group projects or recording assignment video submissions. This is also nice because it’s very close to a printer and my dorm!

I hope everyone has a lovely rest of the month!

 

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Top 5 places to take your parents next family weekend (or whenever)

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In the spirit of family weekend wrapping up, I decided to ask my friends and make a list of places to check out next time your family is in town. I had so much fun showing my family around Iowa City this weekend. My older brothers had never seen campus! We tried lots of new restaurants between all of the fun, including my family’s first Kinnick football game :). I attached a few photos at the end of our adventures! It’s always fun to have family in town, and an added bonus is great food on your parent’s credit card.

No car? No worries! These are all within walking distance of campus!

  1. Iowa City Chophouse
    My dad wants to stop here whenever they come to Iowa City. I have tried so many things here and I have never been disappointed. The mac and cheese, pork chop, pulled pork sandwich, and asparagus are some of my favorite random things on the menu! Everyone has brought their family here, and I’ve never heard a bad thing about it. I recommend making a reservation if you’re thinking about stopping here on a weekend, it’s usually pretty busy!
  2. VUE Rooftop
    This place is so cool, especially when it’s warm outside so you can sit on the patio! This is my favorite restaurant to show off Iowa City. It’s all the way on the top floor of the Hilton Garden Inn, and you can see the whole city from a 360º view in the glassed-in area. Even if you just stop by for a quick drink or appetizer, it’s definitely worth the trip in our opinion!
  3. The Dandy Lion
    My mom raves about The Dandy Lion and their breakfast menu. Our favorite thing to share is the french toast with the coconut curd. They also have really good coffee. Next time my family is here we’re going to try out their lunch menu!
  4. Harry’s Bar and Grill
    My roommate’s family stopped at Harry’s after the game on Saturday, and they only had good things to say. They have breakfast, lunch, and dinner available. They have a pretty unique menu despite being on the smaller side. My roommate’s family said they would definitely recommend trying it!
  5. St. Burch’s Tavern
    St. Burch’s offers lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch! I had a waffle with espresso butter and it was so good! All of my friends and their families have stopped here, it’s pretty famous in Iowa City. An added fun thing: I met William H. Macy outside of this place after the CyHawk game, so you never know who you’re going to run into :).

Happy family weekend and 4th week of classes!

Family weekend pics!

 

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Moving and the first month of school!

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Hi everyone! I now have four weeks in Iowa under my belt and almost three weeks of classes of the first year done! Some huge transitions come with coming to college, and there are some that I am still getting used to! Waiting for washers and dryers, dining hall food, living independently, and taking more difficult courses are just a few new challenging things that are coming my way each day. There are also so many amazing things that come with this stage of life. I am making so many new friends and having the first look at what my professional career might look like. I participated in On Iowa! week which was so busy and fun. My social battery at the end of every day was completely empty because I was talking to so many new people and trying new things. There was bingo, friendship bracelet making, a silent disco, kickoff at Kinnick, self-care carnival, the president block party, and poster sales, just to name a few! I also did Honors Primetime, which was a course offered (for free) to all honors students during On Iowa! week. I chose to take “The Psychology of Food” and I thought it was a great/quick way to earn an experiential learning credit in only three days and meet a few people in the program. Thanks for tagging along and I’ll update soon! 

 

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