College Advice

January 23, 2018January 23, 2018 / avaritz / Leave a comment

My college experience is way different than the typical state school. Everything I have learned so far is based on the fact that I attend a private arts college, live in downtown Chicago, and lead a super independent lifestyle.

The most important part of my day is class, considering I’m a full time student. My first semester I discovered that having late afternoon/evening classes was not the right fit for me. I find it so much more productive to get up early, get done with class, and have the rest of the day for myself. My class days are Monday-Thursday and I am done by either 11:50 am or 1:50 pm. This is a huge advantage to me and I highly recommend scheduling college classes early, it leaves a lot more motivation to make the rest of the day productive.

At school I make all of my own meals. I have a full kitchen and no meal plan but I definitely prefer this over a cafeteria style dining hall. I have already learned so much about nutrition and healthy cooking and it is definitely something I love about my college life. I’ll have a full post up soon regarding what I eat in a day, but I definitely recommend exploring cooking for yourself in college.

In the evenings I have definitely been trying to get out and explore. There is so much to do in the city of Chicago and I would be stupid to not try and experience the most I can. A huge positive of attending Columbia College Chicago is that there is usually a lot going on within the school itself. This is my biggest recommendation about college, take advantage of everything your school has to offer.

Most of all I love the fit I have found at my school. If you are feeling uncomfortable at the school you attend don’t be afraid to keep looking, there is nothing wrong with transferring to a school that is going to better yourself in the future. If you are interested in Columbia College Chicago I will say that it is an amazing community to live and grow in. Attending a school with artists and creatives is so inspiring and I learn so much daily just by interacting with peers. Living in downtown Chicago has also provided me with so many important life lessons and I feel like I have grown more in the past 6 months than I did in all of high school.

Cheers to college life and the amazing opportunities it brings.

My First Prada

January 10, 2018 / avaritz / Leave a comment

First of all these shoes were on major sale! I’m not made of designer money but when I can make it work obviously I’m jumping at the chance. These classic nude pumps struck me as a timeless beauty. I felt like Jackie-O when I tried them on and if that wasn’t a sign I don’t know what is.

These shoes were the only ones left so I had to go a size up, however the back doesn’t slide off of my heel so I think I’m safe. I have been looking for a classic dress shoe for a while now and I am super happy with what I found.

I needed this shoe for class presentations and professional interviews. Of course I will find a million other reasons to wear them out of the house. I am really wanting this purchase to stand the test of time so I will be taking care of them like they are my first born child.

When buying designer I have only ever purchased sale prices or resale deals. For someone who doesn’t have a ton of money to throw around but still wants the luxury of designer brands a good website to visit is TheRealReal.com . This site is amazing for designer styles that are on trend and marked down!

Best Spots in Chicago

January 8, 2018January 10, 2018 / avaritz / Leave a comment

I have definitely found some favorite spots while living in Chicago. I know I am just breaking the surface and I’m so excited to find more gems in the future. I’ll be posting places as I visit them in the future but this is just a few that came to mind!

//feature photo taken at The Hampton Social restaurant 353 W Hubbard St//

The Chicago Theater on State St is a staple in Chicago tourism. I got to see Harry Styles here in the fall and I will graduate in the theater in 2021. This is a great place to visit on a shopping trip or just walking around the city for a major instagram moment.

If you get the chance to go into the theater it is absolutely beautiful. I recommend getting a seat on the mezzanine so you can see every angle of the regally decorated theater.

If you’re looking for a cool place to grab lunch it has to be the French Market on N Clinton St. There are isles of different vendors offering all types of food, drink, and countless other products.

The atmosphere of the French Market takes you right out of the city and into a quaint and personal shopping experience. This is also a super cute place to pick up some fresh flowers for yourself, your kitchen, or your significant other. Who doesn’t love some fresh flowers.

Everyone knows Wrigley Field. If you are in Chicago during baseball season you MUST go to a game. Seats can be super cheap and if you’re not that into sports then who cares if you are sitting up top. A hot dog, a cubs hat, friends and family, and Wrigley Field make a recipe for a great day. The whole stadium singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game is a tradition that never gets old.

I recommend skipping the uber and taking the trains too and from the game. It is super crowded and it’s gonna take longer than a car but it’s definitely cheaper. There’s something about riding the train with all the other fans in their cubs gear that really completes the day.

Soho House on N Green St is another trendy spot to visit with girlfriends. This is a great environment for a coffee with friends or a space to get some work done. Apart from the lobby there is a great restaurant to try called The Allis.

You can become a part of the members club at Soho House or just stay a few nights in the hotel itself. They offer a picture perfect atmosphere and you’ll definitely impress friends or clients with a trip to this hotspot.

The Chicago Cultural Center is another great place to visit in the city. The exhibits here are super unique and something very different from what you find at the Art Institute. They also have great spaces for parties and receptions that are beyond gorgeous. The domed stained glass ceilings in the building are definitely a highlight for me.

During the warmer months one of my favorite spots to walk to was the Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park. There are a lot of places to just sit and think, read, listen to music, or do whatever you want! It’s a beautiful view of the city along with Lake Michigan.

There are always a lot of interesting people here and its great for people watching. I live 3 blocks from the park and this is a super relaxing place to escape to if the city is getting a little to much.

Finally you must go to the Art Institute. This may seem like an obvious one but for me this place is more than a favorite. There is such a wide variety of exhibits and wings and I hate to see people just whizzing through it all. I recommend you take your time. I love going to the Art Institute alone, its such a peaceful place for me and finding your favorite spots and places in the museum is magic.

There is so much to learn from all the art here and I think anyone can take something special away from it. Yes, I am an art student attending an art school so obviously I’ll geek out about it but I think you’ll be surprised when you find yourself geeking out too.

BAHAMAS

January 8, 2018December 7, 2018 / avaritz / Leave a comment

I went to the Bahamas with my mom after I got my heart broken for the first time. Girls gotta do what girls gotta do. I came home ready to continue taking over the world like the boss lady I am.

We stayed at the Baha Mar resort and it was so luxurious and relaxing, I felt like a queen. It was also early December so a pretty slow time for travel, making our resort empty.

Highly recommend for a head clearing, self treating, magic healing destination. And if you’re looking for more of a fun loving experience you can go swim with dolphins at Atlantis.

Best of 2017 Beauty

January 8, 2018January 18, 2018 / avaritz / Leave a comment

Prabal Gurung Fall 2017

Adam Selman Spring 2017

Cushnie et Ochs Spring 2017

Tome Fall 2017

Jeremy Scott Fall 2017

Monse Fall 2017

Oscar De La Renta Fall 2017

Staying Healthy in 2018

January 8, 2018January 23, 2018 / avaritz / Leave a comment

Moving out and living on my own in 2017 I was faced with all the challenges of how to live a healthy lifestyle. After my first semester I think I have figured out what works for me and how I can feel my best. These are just a few things I do to ward off the daunting freshman 15 and commit to my health in the long run.

Regulating my sleep schedule. I really try to keep myself on the same sleep schedule every night. This helps me to not feel groggy during the day, which used to be a huge issue for me. I use the clock app on the Iphone. This is a super easy and helpful tool that is already built into your phone. In the “Bedtime” tab of the app you can set when you want to be asleep each night and when you want to wake up. I have mine on for Sunday through Thursday. I set my bedtime for 11:30 pm and to wake up at 7:30, a solid 8 hours. My favorite feature of this app is that it notifies you 30 minutes before your bedtime, this lets me know when to start my bedtime routine, turn off the electronics, and chill out before I’m ready to sleep.
My Camelbak water bottle. It is so so important to get enough water throughout the day. I found that owning the perfect water bottle is what motivates me to get all the water I need. The bottle holds 750ml of water and I go through as many as I can throughout the day, minimum of 8. Drinking a lot of water helps to clear your skin, flush out toxins, promotes weight loss, and boosts the immune system.
Clean eating. I am a huge fan of going out to eat but the food I keep in my home is completely clean. I grocery shop for lots of fruits and veggies along with lean meats and proteins. I love green peppers. I buy so many green peppers every time I make a grocery run. I use them for basically every meal, cooked with scrambled eggs, as a side with grilled chicken, in salads, or even just cut up and eaten raw. Finding healthy foods that you can do a lot with is so important in healthy cooking. A few other things I always pick up at the store are raspberries, bananas, strawberries, oranges, peaches, sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, eggs, salmon, chicken, soups and salads, avocado (I put it on everything), coconut oil (for universal use), and anything that is in season.
Exercise. I love to exercise and it is usually easy for me to make time every day for a work out. I eat dinner between 6 and 7 pm and head to the gym at 8 pm. This way I can spend a good amount of time focusing on what I am doing and not have to worry about anything I have to do afterwards. Then I can just get straight in the shower and chill out for the night. Working out is something I look forward to in my day because it is a time to focus on myself, destress, and sweat out anything negative from the day. I also try and get up at 7am to walk for 30 minutes at least 2 days a week.
I don’t own a scale. Living a healthy lifestyle is not about weight loss for me. In the past I did have a scale and it completely twisted the meaning of being healthy for me. I was obsessed with weight loss and it was the only thing I focused on. Now I choose to be healthy to better my overall quality of life. A healthy lifestyle leads to so many benefits in your day to day life, more energy, motivation, confidence, positive thinking, better sleep quality, and less threat of long term illness.

I would like to add that I definitely try and stick to these things but I love McDonalds french fries just as much as the next girl. All of the guilty pleasures in life are completely ok in moderation.

Living in Chicago

January 8, 2018January 10, 2018 / avaritz / Leave a comment

This is a more personal post about was my first year living in downtown Chicago. I started at Columbia College Chicago in August of 2017, majoring in Fashion Merchandising and minoring in Marketing. My experience so far has been amazing, I have met so many people and experienced things I would never be able to in my hometown.

My classes have been a dream. High school for me was fun but my interests were never in science and math. Attending an art school I get to learn about such interesting topics and go to really cool places.

My favorite class was Visual Culture: Practices of Looking. Almost every week we met for class at different locations in the city. This day we went to the Museum of Contemporary Art to view the Murakami exhibit. We had our lecture on the front steps of the museum. This was why I came to Chicago. These experiences are one of a kind and if you are looking into attending a college in Chicago, do it, do it, do it!

Another big adjustment moving to the city is public transit. In my hometown I basically lived in my car. Going to school, work, hanging with friends, getting dinner or whatever I was up to was simple. I don’t have my car in Chicago and my VENTRA U-pass is included with my tuition.

Navigating the trains and buses was much easier than I thought it would be and I’m now super comfortable with transportation. I will warn you that you will see, hear, and smell some interesting things, on the trains especially, but it’s all part of the experience. I once had an old man tickle my foot on the train which was the last time I wore sandals or sat cross legged on the red line!

My home life has been a new experience as well. I live in a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with 3 other girls. It hasn’t been too difficult getting along with everyone, it’s all about compromise and respect. It was a challenge fitting all of my things into a tiny room but that’s college. I’m lucky I only have to share my shower, sink, and toilet with one other girl.

I don’t have a meal plan at school so walking to the store is in my weekly routine. I try to buy healthy organic food for myself but as it gets colder Trader Joe’s is feeling farther and farther away. I have recently been going to Target for most of my groceries. They offer a pretty good range in food, but I wouldn’t recommend going there if you’re looking for produce.

Another thing I’ve loved about Chicago is the endless list of things to do! I love love love going to concerts and I have had the opportunity to see some bands that don’t come to smaller towns like where I’m from. I’ve seen HAIM, Khalid, and Harry Styles each in different theaters. The Aragon, Riviera, and Chicago theater are all beautiful places to see shows and I highly recommend getting to all three!

I also love love love movies. The indie film My Friend Dahmer came out in 2017 in select theaters and I was super excited to see it playing near Lincoln Park. I took 3 friends and we journeyed out on a 20 minute train ride and a 20 minute walk, when we got to the theater it was sold out. We ended up having to wait 3 more hours for the next show in a random part of the city which led to my favorite thing to do, explore.

This night was so fun because we got to know a new part of the city with no plans, we were just there. If you are moving to Chicago my number one recommendation is to explore. Just take a train somewhere and see what you find. (Disclaimer: choose safe places to explore!)

Best of 2017 Runway

January 8, 2018January 10, 2018 / avaritz / Leave a comment