It's a Hawkeye State.

Being from Iowa you grow up with this rivalry around you. Are you a cyclone or a hawkeye, is always a question children around here ask each other. Which side are you on? I am from a divided house, My dad went to Iowa State and my mom went to Iowa. When choosing colleges it was a tough decision, but ultimately I made the choice that was right for me.

Each year this rivalry comes front and center during the Iowa vs. Iowa State game. I decided to surprise my boyfriend, Matt this year with tickets to the game. He was beyond excited and it turned out to be a great. Day we were able to spend the day tailgating with friends, cheering the hawks on at the game, and ending the night celebrating the big win. Needless to say there was a lot to celebrate in Iowa City.

It was quite the transition this year from tailgating as a college student to tailgating like an adult and I have to say I enjoy it a lot more. I wouldn't trade my college experiences for the world, but I had so much fun tailgating with Matt that this definitely topped the list.

The Do's and Dont's of Tailgate:

Do:

Show up early. Tailgating starts early and I thought it may be a good idea to sleep in, and it wasn't! Make sure you show up early.

Choose a cute, but comfortable outfit. Tailgating outfits are so fun to pick out and let you be creative in how you want to dress. I have seen everything from costumes to dresses, but the most important thing is to be comfortable. If it is going to be a cool fall day dress for it.

Know how far you are going to walk. We didn't figure this out before hand and ended up walking FOREVER. So make sure that you know the walk and wear the right shoes!

Don't:

SLEEP IN. Like I said above, this is what Sundays are for. Enjoy the day and get up early.

Forget to take pictures! Tailgating is so fun and we can get caught up in the moment and forget to take a snap shot of the memories.

Outfit Details:

Tank Top.

I purchased this take top from Tailgate a few years ago and have worn it so many times. Tailgate has adorable vintage apparel for many different teams. Here is the link to their website.

Jeans.

I LOVE these jeans. I just got them the day before in the mail and was so excited to wear them to tailgate. I got them on sale at Abercromie. I have linked the website to many different styles to choose from that are still on sale!

Plaid shirt.

This shirt I got a few years ago from Dry Goods. I love how baggy it is. Here is a similar one from Nordstrom that I absolutely love.

Shoes.

I purchased these at Tailgate also. These PF Flyers are stylish and cute for any sport occasion. Here I have linked some similar ones from Free People.

Sunglasses.

I can't get enough of these over sized aviators. I hate spending a lot of money on glasses because I always lose or break them. I purchased these for $15 from Nordstrom! I love them and can't get enough of them!

I had so much fun tailgating and spending the time with Matt and our friends. I hope that you all get the chance to cheer on your favorite team this fall!

xoxo

ariel