DIY Gift Idea- Cozy Flannel Infinity Scarf

If you're anything like me, the thought of finding parking, fighting crowds, and standing in line for hours at the mall is enough to keep you locked up in your house with a big glass of wine. Here's my solution- handmade gifts! All you need can be found in one store (preferably Jo-Ann Fabrics, of course), and you can cross a few people off your list in one weekend. Not to mention the fact that your one-of-a-kind gift beats out a gift card for originality and thoughtfulness. And the best part about it? You can still have that big glass of wine while making these gifts, they're that easy.

Here's the first gift idea, it's the perfect accessory for chilly winter days.

Here's what you'll need-

2 yards* shirting weight flannel (it's thinner & drapes better)

2 yards* solid knit fabric

Thread

A sewing machine

Fabric scissors

*You can actually use 1 yard of each fabric if you don't mind having a seam in your fabric where you sew the 2 pieces together, otherwise you'll actually have enough to make 2 scarves!

Directions -
1. Measure and cut your fabric into 62 in x 22 in rectangles. This is the size that I used, but you can change the measurements to whatever you want.

2. Pin your 2 rectangles together along the long edges and sew the two sides. You should have a long tube with openings on either end.

 I used a straight stitch and finished my seams with a zig-zag stitch to prevent the fabric from fraying.

3. Turn the tube inside out, place the two short ends together with the knit fabric sides facing out, and sew along the edge. This seam can be worn at the back of your neck so you won't be able to see it.

This is the simplest way to finish your scarf. If you'd like a neater seam, you can follow the tutorials found here and here.

That's all there is to it! I told you it was easy.

DIY: Glitter Shoes

This might sound crazy, but I recently decided to cut back on clothes shopping. I do have a slight shopping addiction, I will admit that, but I haven't put myself into serious debt (yet!). My biggest problem is that I tend to shop for clothes when I'm stressed, overwhelmed, or experiencing the mean reds. As a recent college graduate who is currently job hunting, this has become quite the problem in the past few months.

In order to stop myself from buying new things, I've decided to use my crafting skills for good and restyle some of the things I already own. After making the decision to severely limit my clothes purchases, I found the perfect dress in my closet to wear to a wedding this month...but then I couldn't find the right shoes to wear! That's when I got the idea to DIY some glitter heels from a tutorial I had pinned a few weeks ago. I really liked the look of these glittered shoes, so I kept the wedge part black and just added gold glitter.

You'll need to gather the following supplies -

• Shoes
• Glitter (I used Martha Stewart coarse glitter in Florentine Gold)
• Mod Podge or some type of glue (Martha Stewart also sells glue to mix glitter into)
• Paint brush or foam brush
• Painter's Tape
• Clear Sealer (I used Krylon Glitter Blast)
• Newspaper

Once you have all your supplies together, you'll want to make sure your surface is covered with newspaper because this can get messy (you will find glitter on everything!). Wipe off your shoes with a damp cloth and make sure they're completely dry before starting. Tape off any areas that you don't want glitter on that are directly next to the areas you will be "glittering". Now you're ready to go!

Mix together equal parts glue & glitter in a separate container, making sure the glitter is well combined.

(This is NOT well combined, I just wanted to show what the glitter/glue should look like)

Apply the glitter glue in even layers to the parts of the shoes you want glittered. You'll need to apply
3-4 layers of the glitter mixture in order to get good coverage. Make sure the layers aren't too thick or else it will take FOREVER for each layer to dry. You want each layer to dry at least most of the way before applying another layer.

After your final layer is applied, LIGHTLY sprinkle some loose glitter onto the still wet layer to fill in any gaps. Just keep in mind that this glitter might fall off as the shoes are worn, even after they're sprayed with the sealer.

After the glitter glue is completely dry, carefully remove the tape. Some of the glitter layer started to peel off with the tape, so make sure you press down on the glitter part as you peel the tape. Spray the shoes with the clear sealer, following the directions on the can. Make sure you do this in a well-ventilated area or outside, this stuff is strong! Allow your shoes to dry overnight.

Tada! Glitter shoes that you can wear to dance the night away.

Tour Life: Part 2 - Eating on the Road

I have to admit that I can be a creature of habit. I always eat breakfast and drink a cup of coffee first thing in the morning. Unfortunately, that becomes a luxury when you have to check in and out of a hotel daily. I wish I could take my Keurig coffee maker everywhere, it would make mornings so much easier!

Adam & I eat fairly healthy, so finding healthy options on the road can sometimes be tough. We make sure to stock up on protein bars, Kind bars, beef jerky, trail mix, and bottled water before trips so we have snacks to hold us over. We like to try local restaurants when we can, and If all else fails, we search for the nearest Panera.

One of our favorite local finds was Doumar's, a tiny diner in Norfolk, Virginia where they make their own waffle cones. We both had the pulled pork sandwich and their famous homemade ice cream cones. The prices were so cheap and the food was great! If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend stopping in. They also have a drive-up area if you prefer to eat in your car, but I enjoyed sitting in the diner and people watching ;)

Clockwise from top left: Doumar's famous ice cream cones, inside Doumar's Diner in Norfolk, VA, craft beer at Fox & Hound, Panera 

Tour Life: Part 1 - New York City

I agreed to join my boyfriend this month on a 3-week roadtrip along the East Coast. My boyfriend Adam is a comedian who performs stand-up comedy at colleges across the country (if you want to check out his website, click here. Trust me, he's hilarious!). Since I'm not currently working, I thought this would be the perfect time to travel. We were hit by a late snowstorm the night before our trip, which was even more incentive for me to leave Chicago for a little while. We packed as much as we could fit into Adam's car & headed out east. 

I learned pretty quickly that touring is not like a vacation (ie. lots of driving and switching hotels every night), but it does have its perks. We tried to see and do as much as possible on the days that Adam didn't have a show, like visiting the battlegrounds at Gettysburg and eating at local diners. My favorite part of the trip was our first weekend, which we spent in New York City. 

Clockwise from top left: The Plaza Hotel, Rockefeller Center, The Dakota, skyline view from the Long Island ferry

Since it was Adam's first time in NYC, we tried to fit in as much as possible during our time there. We visited Times Square, which was really hectic since there was a huge group of protestors walking through! Then we walked down 5th Ave, visited St. Patrick's Cathedral, and stopped in Tiffany's. I'm pretty sure I terrified Adam with my unnecessary and extensive knowledge of Tiffany & Co. I swear it's because of my love for Audrey Hepburn and the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's. Anyways, after that we walked around The Plaza Hotel for a few minutes and then headed to Central Park. We finished our tour with a visit to The Dakota, which is the apartment complex where John Lennon was shot and killed (it's also where Rosemary's Baby was filmed, which makes this place extra creepy).

We were back in New York a few days later when Adam had a show on Long Island. We took the Long Island Ferry to Manhattan and the subway to Brooklyn for a Brooklyn Nets game at the Barclay's Center. I had the fanciest hotdog ever, called a Brooklyn Dog. Sorry Chicago, but this was the best hotdog I've ever had!

Sadly, we had to say goodbye to New York and head further south for the rest of Adam's tour. Don't worry New York, we will be back! For more Brooklyn dogs, I'm sure ;)

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