DIY: Birthday Cards

Gift giving is somewhat of a passion of mine. I tend to stay away from merely buying gifts at a store, but rather enjoy making something myself or seeking out a gift that is truly thoughtful. For the birthday of one of my closest friends who lives in Baltimore, I decided to make a card myself. Here's how I did it...

What You'll Need:
1. Plain cards and envelopes (any size you'd like)
2. A set of paints
3. Fine glitter
4. A glitter pen
6. A paintbrush with large bristles

Step 1: Dip your paintbrush in water and cover the surface of your card. This will give you a more blended end effect.

Step 2: Using any variation of colors you'd like, paint the surface in large strokes. There's no need to be too careful here as you want an effect that is more seamless.

Step 3: Once your paint is completely dry, fold the card carefully. Using a glitter pen, write a message on the front of your card

Step 4: Quickly fill the front of your card with glitter, making sure you cover the message entirely.

Step 5: Wait a minute or two and then blow off the glitter carefully. And voila!

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Wicker Park Eats

I'm having a passionate love affair with Wicker Park. I have spent the last few days there and discover something new every day -- mostly food related.

Yesterday for lunch, my boyfriend and I popped into Antique Taco. It was easily the best decorated restaurant I have been to in a while. Every piece was curated to perfection. However, the food left much to be desired. The portions were tiny and simply not that tasty.

Brunch today was at The Bongo Room. A Wicker Park favorite, the lines on weekends can have you waiting for 45 minutes. It's worth every minute. I had the breakfast burrito with chorizo which was cheesy, had guacamole in abandon, a delicious salsa, and just the right amount of tangy, cooked-to-perfection chorizo.

My afternoon was spent lounging on the couch and drinking delicious coffee from Caffe Streets. It was truly a work of art. These people are not baristas, but rather true artists and coffee connoisseurs. It's a must for any coffee lover out there.

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Renegade Craft Fair

My weeks have become terribly busy, which makes it all the more important to enjoy the weekends to the fullest extent.

In my three months in Chicago, I haven't been able to explore the many other neighborhoods, but now that the weather isn't insufferably hot, I've been making more of an effort.

This weekend I headed down to Wicker Park to explore the area. While not as suburban or quiet as some of the neighborhoods up North, it's incredibly diverse and packed different things to do and people from all over. It was a change of pace I definitely enjoyed.

While I had some delicious meals, the Renegade Craft Fair definitely took the cake. It's a fair that showcases  the work of indie craft artists. It was open all day long and even had beer stands and quick bites. There wasn't a single stall I didn't end up falling in love with - much to the chagrin of my bank account. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take any pictures but another trip is in the works and soon! Pin It Now! Tweet

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

This weekend was a much needed break from work and the hectic pace of regular week days. I got a chance to enjoy the beautiful weather, have a few drinks with friends while watching college football (Go Illini!), enjoy some retail therapy, and indulge in some sweet treats. Correction: numerous sweet treats.

I also got a chance to cook some delicious meals and thanks to a little fuel provided by iced coffees, deep cleaned my apartment.

Unfortunately, it's back to work tomorrow and I have to contend with a shattered iPhone screen courtesy of my own clumsiness made worse by poor motor skills. Pin It Now! Tweet