Tag: uofiowa

Best Places in Iowa City

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Hi everyone, welcome back!

On this blog, I’ve been talking a lot about the university in relation to academics, so I thought I’d switch it up and give you a glimpse into my favorite places in Iowa City!

To Study/Get Coffee:

  • Dash Coffee Roasters: Dash is by far my go-to place when it comes to studying or going to get coffee with a friend. It is a place that a lot of students on campus don’t really know about because it is in a sort of hidden location. I love it because it is the closest coffee shop to the dorms. It’s just down the street from Catlett and Burge! If you are a plant lover or are super into aesthetic, cute places this is definitely someplace to try. I would recommend getting a latte and the pesto grilled cheese.
  • Java House: This place is VERY popular on campus. It was one of the first places I went when I got to campus first semester. It’s always tricky to find a seat, so make sure to get there early :) I tend to prefer the atmosphere at Dash a little more, just because during busier times, Java can get loud, so it makes it a little more challenging to study. If you go, definitely get a breakfast sandwich; my favorite is the Spicy Southwest.

Breakfast Date

  • The Dandy Lion: The best breakfast restaurant in Iowa City (in my opinion). It reminds me of a hometown diner, one where every employee knows every customer. It’s a very unique restaurant when it comes to style, vibe, and meals. The last time I was in, they had some very delicious sounding desserts on the menu, but I always find that the food is so good that I eat it all and never have enough time for dessert :( So, if you have any good desserts after your meal, please let me know.

Bring the Parents:

  • Pullman Diner: This is by far my favorite restaurant in Iowa City, and has now become my parents’ favorite as well. The most special aspect of the restaurant is that it was designed based on the Pullman Train Car. You can’t go wrong with going to Pullman for brunch, lunch, or dinner!
  • Vue Rooftop: You don’t have to be staying in the hotel to eat at the restaurant! But, make sure to schedule a reservation because it fills up very quickly, especially with COVID. The best part is the view you get of Iowa City; it’s so beautiful to look over the skyline, especially as the sun is setting :)

Shop:

  • Pitaya: I LOVE THIS STORE. I honestly think it has become my favorite store of all time just because the clothing is so cute, appropriate, and trendy! This is definitely a popular store for girls who are in sororities because there are some great clothing items for the different events they have. But, it’s also a nice place to shop for different holidays, and if you just want to treat yourself to a nice outfit :)
  • Iowa Book: If you go to Iowa…so does your family. This store has so many different options when it comes to clothes for parents, grandparents, siblings, etc. There’s tons of Iowa gear, nic-nacs, and academic supplies. They also have lots of really great sales!

Alright, everyone! I hope you enjoyed hearing about a few of my favorite places in Iowa City. Don’t get me wrong, I love every place in the city, but these are places where I am a very frequent customer :) These are definitely places to go whether you are touring the campus, or are a current student and have never tried them!

Have a beautiful rest of your day :)

Quote of the day: “Celebrate the simple”~Unknown

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University of Iowa Prep #2: Shopping

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Hi everybody! I’ve been thinking about all of the items I need for my return to school. These are my must-haves for this next semester to make sure I have the most healthy, organized and productive one possible! For those who are prospective freshman, I hope this list will provide you some help when it comes to packing for school because I know that can seem a little overwhelming. For returning students, I hope this can spark your memory of things you may need prior to going back to Iowa.

Item #1: Healthy Snacks!–it is so important to be sure that with all of the stress we are facing right now, you do whatever you can to take care of yourself. I am guilty of having a lot of unhealthy snacks in my dorm room first semester, so for the very busy days, I wanted to look for snacks that will be able to hold me over until I can sit down and have a meal!

Item #2: Gum!–I bring gum with me EVERYWHERE! It’s the perfect addition to your purse for when you leave your favorite coffee shop in Iowa City, or to just take a piece quick right before class.

Item #3: Mac N Cheese/Ramen!–It is absolutely PERFECT for the late nights studying when the cafeteria is closed :)

Item #4: K-Cups!–If I don’t have coffee first thing in the morning…I will not make it through the day.

Item #5: Organizational tools!–I have found that with having classes online, things can get cluttered in your room. Containers for utensils, small bags for makeup products, drawer organizers, etc. are perfect for keeping everything together whether you are on the go or having some cozy and productive time in your room! If you are looking for these products, I suggest Amazon.

For specific food or necessary product ideas you can check out my shopping vlog on my YouTube channel.

Have a beautiful rest of your day :)

Quote of the day: “I am not a shopaholic. I am helping the economy”

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New Years Resolutions-what I hope for the next two semesters

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Ah, January 1st. Just when we thought 2020 wouldn’t end, 2021 is here! Happy New Year, everybody…let’s hope 2021 will be filled with lots of good news. The time has come when everyone pulls out the notepad and decides to write a long list of things they hope to do for the entire year, but it can be challenging to follow through on these resolutions. I am a person that tends to struggle with this. I stick to the list for a few weeks but if I am not very interested in my resolution, I won’t have the motivation to continue it. However, the resolutions I created this year seem to be more achievable than those I have had in the past. I wanted to share my academic and campus life resolutions with all of you…maybe they will give you some ideas of resolutions you can make for yourself.

Academic Resolutions:

  1. Second semester and the start of sophomore year are going to be tough! Work your hardest to continue getting straight A’s but at least try to get nothing below a  B.
  2. Get accepted into Tippie College of Business.
  3. Update planner every Sunday with due dates and create a daily schedule of what I have to do.
  4. Create a study schedule every week with tests and how often I am going to study for them.
  5. Stay on top of everything…don’t fall behind!

Campus Life Resolutions:

  1. Try new coffee shops.
  2. Wander around Iowa City and try new things (safely).
  3. Go to the waterfall study spot.
  4. Meet a group of really great friends.
  5. Attend more CHAARG workout events.
  6. Create a list of clubs I would be interested in joining throughout the rest of my time at Iowa.
  7. Attend as many athletic events as you can (once fans are able to be in attendance again)

Thanks so much for being here with me, have a beautiful rest of your day

Quote of the day: “One day…or day one? You get to decide.”~Paulo Coelho

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