Iowa City’s Top 3 Coffee Shops

Posted on March 1, 2024

If you haven’t gotten the gist of today’s post it’s all about coffee shops! Recently, I’ve been on an insane kick for buying coffee and different types of pastries, so let’s get started with my top 3 shops!

• Java House

The best place for super sweet drinks! My personal fav is the Decadent Dark Mocha Frappe, so so good! If you like dark chocolate with no taste of coffee then this is for you. I don’t like to taste coffee super strong because I think it is too bitter, so the sugar masks it up really well. Another plus is the cookies, specifically the chocolate chunk. I know the chocolate chip is a little played out but you can never go wrong with a classic, especially in Java House. Definity is one of my favorites because they are super big and have so many chocolate chips, which is so yummy!

• Prarie Lights

BEST HOT CHOCOLATE EVER! If you’ve never had rose hot chocolate, please try it:) I’m not really sure how to describe it but it’s like a light flowery blush along with the hot chocolate. The first time I tried it I was super surprised at how much I really enjoyed it and I think if you’re into sweeter but lighter flavor you would definitely enjoy this.

• Encounter Cafe

My personal favorite because I am a big fan of chai! A lot of cafes don’t have the best quality chairs because they use syrups and not the real thing but encounter is not playing around when it comes to their chai. I try to avoid drinking actual dairy so their chai blend works so well with almond milk with it being too overpowering.

Iowa City definitely has so many unique cafes that all have different vibes that can fit everyone’s unique style. nothing is better than a good drink from any of these three cafes if you take my word for it, but there are still many cafes I still have to explore! I’ll definitely be doing a restaurant review shortly because there are so many hidden gems I think everyone should know about! See you soon<3

Continue Reading →

A Winter Weather Guide: Do’s and Don’ts

Posted on February 1, 2024

Winter is coming back regardless of how nice it is right now, sooo the only thing to do now is to prepare for the inevitable. I am the type of person to be completely bundled up in winter, I can’t stand the feeling of the vicious cold on my body so I try to get the most useful things against the cold.

Long puffer jacket

My saving grace of the winter season, genuinely I don’t know what I would do without it. My jacket is from Nautica and it has done a really good job of lasting since I got it a year and a half ago. I say when it comes to winter coat there are three things I look for: the fit, length, and thickness, and this jacket hits all three marks. Starting with the fit I got mine a little bigger so I can still wear sweatshirts and sweaters easily underneath it. In the past, I have had jackets that have been super tight when I wear their types of tops and it makes me really hot with all the layers on so tightly. Going onto the length, something about a long jacket is going to do it for me every time. You are probably thinking who cares how long the jacket is? I used to think the same way until I slipped and fell into a wet puddle of slush that left my butt soaking wet, so having a longer coat really helps to avoid these situations and longer jackets look better for layering outfits too! Finally thickness, not all winter jackets are made the same, some are made for light wind and some are made for freezing temperatures. Luckily, my jacket leans on the thicker side which is perfect for the various winter temperatures of Iowa City. Regardless, without a winter jacket, it is impossible to stand a chance against the winter weather if you don’t have something to protect yourself.

Snowboots

Another holy grail that I completely underestimated how useful they would be. Before coming to college I hadn’t worn snow boots since elementary school because I found them unappealing to the eyes but times and designs have changed. I recently purchased the Sorel boots and haven’t looked back because of their comfort, stability, and durability. Easily one of my winter staple shoes because they go with a lot of outfits and still look good. The best part is my feet don’t get cold when I wear them because of the wind compared to my tennis shoes. These are also AMAZING when it comes to walking on ice, snow, slush, and even puddles so no more wet socks. Overall, I am totally in love with these boots because they are so versatile and durable through the winter elements, so I wouldn’t mind some more snow.

Accessories

While winter is cold it easily has some of the best accessories. Starting off with my favorite, earmuffs, I can’t rave enough about these. I purchased mine from Amazon in November when it started getting a little cold and they’ve held up really well. Personally, I don’t like wearing beanies because they mess up my hair so earmuffs are perfect for protecting your ears without compromising a great hair day. Since they are pretty small it’s easy to just throw them inside your back if you are not sure how cold it will get that day and they are even comfortable enough to wear all day if you don’t want to take them off. Next up are scarves, I rotate between two scarves, a monogram and plain colored, which allows us to switch up the look depending on what I wear. Most importantly, scarves are perfect for having some protection against harsh winds and snow from hitting my face.

Between my top three winter picks, I can’t even choose a favorite, each one works so well with the other that I really think about them as a one-fluid option when it comes to getting ready for cold snow days! No matter how cold winter gets, I hope everyone can stay warm and stay tuned for my next post of cute and cozy places for Valentine’s Day! See you there <3

Continue Reading →

The Inside Scoop of Catlett Hall

Posted on January 31, 2024

Choosing a residence hall is one of the most important decisions I think you will make before the next semester begins. On campus, there are 11 residence halls split between the east and west sides with different options for bathroom and room styles.

I live in Catlett Hall which is on the east side of campus and is close to the Honors building and the Chemistry building. Catlett is easily one of the most convenient halls to live in because of the dining hall and easy access to classes that I take on the east side.

Starting off, I live in a double, which at first feels a little tight but it’s really easy to get used to. I think it is super easy to decorate and make the room look super cute because when you have the desk and bed there isn’t a ton of room left besides the walls so picking decor is really easy. When it comes to storage space I think Catlett does a pretty good job. Even with sharing a closet, having drawers on the desk, a separate dresser, and additional storage underneath my bed really gives me all the storage I need for now… Regardless of storage, it’s really important to get a roommate that you can live with comfortably because living in a new place is already tough enough so the last thing you want is a terrible roommate.

Catlett bathrooms are pod style so in each bathroom there is a sink, shower, and toilet so you don’t have to share with anyone. Honesty, I have mixed feelings about it. While I do like the private-styled bathrooms, I do find that they get really dirty with all sorts of stuff. Since I am never on my floor that much it hasn’t really become a big issue for me but, when I am there to use the shower, it is really common to find hairballs and a soaking wet floor which isn’t always the most pleasant but, it is what it is.

My favorite part of Catlett would easily be the dining hall because of how convenient it is to me. For example, when we had the virtual day of classes it was really nice knowing that I could simply go downstairs for my meals. It is also nice to have one of the better dining halls because I personally am not the biggest fan of the Burge dining hall just because they typically don’t have the food I like.

Overall living in Catlett is really convenient for classes and the dining hall because of its location. I love living in Catlett because my room is awesome with all of its little quirks and having a great roommate that I get along with really well. I honestly would recommend Catlett if you prefer a little more privacy for the bathroom and a decently sized room. Coming next is a guide for everything you need for winter. See you there <3

Continue Reading →

Home for the Fallidays

Posted on December 1, 2023

The highly anticipated fall break finally arrived! Time to be at home and relax without the worries of being late to class, cold weather, or forgetting last-minute assignments. Finally free, I boarded my plane to sunny Orlando.

During the break, I was able to spend time with my family and dog by taking a trip to the Kennedy Space Center, hanging out at the beach, and relaxing at home.

The Kennedy Space Center has a lot to offer, showing many different types of spaceships throughout the advancement of space travel in the US. I’m not really into space but it was definitely really cool to see the insides of spaceships and some of the artifacts that were found in space like space rocks

 

Going to the beach was definitely the highlight of my trip. Sunny clear skies, crystal clear water, and endless sands make a perfect beach day. Honestly, words don’t do it justice so I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves:

 

Going home for fall break was great, being able to spend time with family and relax without worrying about school. In 3 weeks I will be able to completely relax with the semester coming to an end giving the the entire month of winter break off. See you next time for tips on getting through the rough Iowa winters!

Continue Reading →

Preparing to go Home Again

Posted on December 1, 2023December 1, 2023

Now begins the shortest and most important time of the semester. Not only did we just get back from break but we are preparing to leave again in less than 3 weeks and have finals to worry about. But before we leave again, we have to get through the last 2 weeks of classes and finals week.

Important things for the next 2 weeks:

The best way to get through the next 2 weeks is to stay focused and keep attending classes and completing assignments. This isn’t easy, I find myself thinking “Do I really need to go to class today anyway, we’re almost done”, but I know for myself that I find lectures to be the only way I can be successful in my classes to complete the assignments.

Completing assignments is time-consuming work that no one wants to do, but it has to be done eventually. Since I’ve come back from break, I’ve really struggled with not procrastinating assignments until the night before. No matter how many times I tell myself I will do a little bit of the assignment each day it never seems to happen, causing me to have another not unusual all-nighter. Planning out all my assignments definitely helps me not forget about assignments until the day before it due, letting me sleep full nights.

Balancing time for school, student organizations, and personal time is crucial to avoid burnout. At the beginning of the year, I was able to do this very well because my classes had just started with fair workloads. Unlike now, my classes have definitely picked up with the workload. Alongside this, some student organizations require more time than others for some weeks, causing me to lose time that I normally keep for myself to hang out with friends, go to the gym, or even just relax. Once I got into a pattern that allowed me to do all 3 balanced, I could feel a difference because I felt less stressed in my day-to-day.

As finals approach, my main goal is to take my time studying so I can really do well in all my finals. While my grades are looking good right now, there is always room for improvement.

Going into the last few weeks of the semester I wish everyone good luck for finals week!

Continue Reading →

A Hawks Guide to Homesickness

Posted on November 1, 2023

I’ve come down with a sickness that I can’t seem to get rid of and the only cure is to be home. Unfortunately, fall break is in three weeks so I’m trying to do my best to make it until fall break. Until then I’ve been using these tips to “cure” my sickness.

1. Packages from Home
   The best way to cure homesickness is to bring home to you. I’m very thankful that my parents can send little pieces of home. Recently, I got a package from my parents full of the comforts of home.
   • Starting with Christmas lights and plushies because my mom knows my love for Christmas decorations and the season as a whole.
   • Haitian bread, peanut butter, and patties! This is easily my favorite part of the box because I love being able to have Haitian food so far from home. It makes it feel like I’m not too far from home even though I’m thousands of miles away.
   • Finally, getting some of my clothes from home makes the adjustment better. Since the weather was getting cold, I was able to get more of my sweats, jeans, and thicker jackets so I could adjust to the weather changes from hot to cold.
2. Trying New Foods from Other Cultures
   Iowa City restaurants have a wide variety of foods from different cultures that I haven’t tried before. Even though they are different than my own culture, it is easy to find flavors that remind me of home. Here are some of the restaurants I’ve tried so far:
   • Taco Depot: Torta, a sandwich made with telera bread, filled with meat like beef and chicken, vegetables like cabbage and lettuce, and cheeses.
   • Oasis: Falafel Pita Sandwich, a warm pita filled with chicken, hummus, Mediterranean salad, baba ganoush, and a falafel ball.
   • Marsala: Chicken Biryani, basmati rice cooked with spices, herbs, chicken, saffron, and nuts. Mango Lassi, mangos, yogurt, and little cardamon.

Being homesick definitely sucks but between getting packages from home and trying food from other cultures. I have also been able to talk to my family and friends which helps me feel more at home. Without them, I honestly don’t know how I would have gotten through homesickness so easily. Fall break is only 3 weeks away, so my home sicknesses is at ease for now. Next time I’ll be talking about preparing for midterms, see you next time!<3

Continue Reading →

Navigating My First Month At Iowa

Posted on September 29, 2023

Freshman year is exciting, nerve-racking, and everything in between. I have loved every minute so far, from my first midterm to my weekly study sessions with my Edge group. So, I’ll give some insight into what I have been doing in my first month as a Hawkeye!

• Studying

Studying and homework take up a good amount of my week, especially when preparing for my first midterm. Personally, I study everywhere except my dorm because I get distracted, so I have tried many study spaces around campus. So far, I have been to the Tippie Quiet Floor, Main Library, Seaman Center, Linquist Center, and Catlett Study Lounge and Rooms. My personal favorite so far is the Tippie Quiet Floor when studying alone because of the quiet and really nice lighting. I will go a little more in-depth about each study space in a later post coming soon!

• Student Organizations 

The best way to gain friends and meet people who have similar interests as you is definitely to join student organizations. I recently joined the Accounting Society, Black Studnet Union (BSU), Hall Association for Catlett (HAWC), and Sunset Club. Each student org has a different vibe, Accounting Society is an academic club that connects to my major, BSU is a cultural club that lets me form connections with students with whom I share a racial identity, HAWC lets me continue my love for planning different events for my peers, and Sunset Club is a great way to end the day by just watching the sunset. So far I really like Accounting Society because different accounting firms, most recently Eide Bailly, come and speak to us about what their job is and how we can prepare ourselves are Tippie students to have the skills needed for jobs such as theirs. Also, they put on an accounting career fair which is only jobs that are specifically recruiting for accounting which is super convenient for internships and just learning about different company options for the future.

 

• Exploring Downtown Iowa City

Downtown Iowa City is awesome, there’s always something new to explore such as the Saturday Farmer’s Market. It has all sorts of food trucks, I personally recommend the Caribbean Kitchen food truck, fresh pastries, handmade soaps, and all sorts of flower arrangements. There are also a lot of cute shops downtown as well such as:

• Om, a crystal and wholistic store, they definitely have something for everyone
• Basic Goods, a plant store with different-sized plants for small dorms and big apartments
• Beno’s, a flower shop with small jewelry and decor
• Prairie Lights, a bookstore with a really good coffee shop on the upstairs level

These are just some that I have been to so far but there is so much more that is 100% worth exploring.

So far, my first month has been exciting with starting a new era in my life as a college student. I look forward to being involved in my student organizations, prepping for my next three midterms, and most of all enjoying Iowa City! Coming next month I will go more in-depth on study spaces and football games, see you then!

Continue Reading →

My favorite On Iowa! events from welcome week

Posted on September 5, 2023October 2, 2023

What is On Iowa!?

When you get to campus for the first time knowing that the University of Iowa will be your newfound home for the next 9 months it is hard to know how to spend your time. Luckily, On Iowa! has been created to provide a variety of different types of events that everyone is sure to like, such as Kickoff at Kinnick, the President’s Block Party, and small welcome groups by major.

Iowa Edge

Iowa Edge is the best program I have ever been a part of. Starting Sunday morning I moved into Catlett Hall and nervously prepared to be placed into a group of other minority, first-generation, and LGBTQ+ students that are first-year students at Iowa. Little did I know this would become the stepping stone for my first friendships on campus. From Sunday afternoon to Wednesday night ending with a banquet, my group was thrown into different teambuilding exercises like a challenge course with the leadership from our wonderful peer mentors Che Der, Madisen, and Sami.

Bingo Night

By far the best and most frustrating On Iowa! event the whole week. First, you must arrive early to get into the ballroom because seats are limited. Once inside you better be ready because it’s about to get crazy. Starting with the traditional bingo with 5 in a row, I didn’t win anything…but I wasn’t going to let that stop me. Then, we had to complete our board in different letters like an H and I, and for the final pattern the dreaded blackout board. By the end of the game, I got close to winning a few times but not close enough leaving me one of the many losers of bingo night.

Silent Disco

The literal definition of dance is that nobody is watching. The second you put your headphones on you get to choose from three different DJs that are mixing other songs throughout the entire night. Feeling like you have been transported to your own personal concert you can sing or scream the lyrics of your favorite songs as loud as you want without worrying about anyone hearing you sing. It was a good time to jump around and feel like there was no care in the world.

Kickoff to Kinnick

It is time to learn the official traditions of being a Hawkeye! If you are anything like me and have never been to a Hawkeye football game or ever even heard the fight song prepare to be enlightened. I was allowed to star in the video that was used to teach the fight song of our school which was pretty interesting because my friends and I had no idea what it was. During kickoff, you get to practice the Iowa Wave, and other football game traditions, and at the end watch a firework show with games.

Continue Reading →