How To: Gifting Event Tickets

This year I got my parents the ULTIMATE Christmas gift. Being a small family of three, we decided to keep Christmas simple this year and focus on spending time with each other rather than loading the tree with materialistic gifts. I stuck with my plan in not getting them gifts that will never be used, and really wanted to get them something that they would use and remember for a lifetime. And boy did I find the holy grail of gifts when Garth Brooks announced that he was bringing his tour to Boston, MA this January.

Now, my parents don't really do a lot for themselves... they're very casual, easy to please and love to have fun. They would never think to buy themselves concert tickets, but they've been known to enjoy themselves at events like Jimmy Buffet, comedy shows, and a NASCAR race or two. {Another side note: my mom LOVES Garth} The day the tickets went on sale I had an alarm on my phone set, my computer set to Ticketmaster and a phone in my hand pre-dialed. I was getting these tickets. Once I got them, my excitement burst and my mind started going in a million different directions on fun ways to gift these exciting tickets to them. Opening an envelope is easy, and where's the fun in that? I decided to grab a few small gifts that fit each of their personalities, create a riddle that they each read parts of, added in a $50 gift card for dinner before hand to make it an entire day in Boston for them, and BAM the gift turned into an experience.

It was both an experience for them to open, and will be an even better experience for them to enjoy in just a few short weeks! If you're looking to gift someone event tickets in the future, they don't have to be for the Holidays, here are my 5 tips to gifting those bad boys.

Tips to gifting event tickets:

1. Make it an experience - Add in a $50 visa gift card for dinner the night of the concert or wrap up a case of their favorite beer to bring to the tailgate for that football game. Adding something additional to go with the event tickets will make the experience of the tickets complete and show all of the thought and effort that went into the gift!

2. Make it enjoyable - Create a storyline, or a fun way to open the gift. Opening an envelope is easy, but why not have some fun with it. Write a riddle to have them guess, or use the box within a box trick {that one never gets old}

3. Make it special - Adding hand written notes or clues, even a picture of the view from their seats or some kind of print out to give them a little preview will make the whole thing that much more. {Not going to lie, my mom and I teared a little when she opened the tickets! That's how I knew it was perfect!}

4. Have a plan - Plan out how your gifts will be opened; if there are multiple gifts, write numbers on the bottom of each gifts to know the order they need to be opened. If you have a riddle, have it written in the notes on your phone so you can follow along as they read it to make sure it goes as planned!

5. Go in on it with a group - Don't be afraid to join forces with siblings, friends, or family {especially if it's a pricey gift} Splitting the cost of a gift like this would be a great way to be able to get the gift without breaking the bank!

All in all - Have fun with it!

Christmas

It's Here, It's Here! Christmas is this week! I'm so excited to see my family this week and share such a happy and festive time of year with them! Today's moldboard touches a little bit on the red and green but also shares a little peek into my holiday style... festive, rustic and simple. I hope everyone enjoys their week and time spent with friends & family.

Minted

Posting on a Sunday is a little unusual for me but with the holidays here and everyone prepping for Santa this coming week I figured this one will be well worth the Sunday read. I'm hopeful that everyone has conquered the crowds at their local shopping malls and now all you need to do is wrap those presents! So, grab a cup of coffee and a blanket, take a quick break from the to-do list and get cozy with me for a little Sunday reading!

First things first, lets talk holiday cards. Considering Christmas is Thursday {hi, where did the 2014 go?} you or your family has probably already sent out Christmas cards. You're probably thinking 'wow, you're late to the game' but what you haven't thought of are all the other ways you can use christmas cards. I'm not talking heading down to target or hallmark and grabbing a box of premade cards. I'm talking Minted, the online marketplace of independent artists and designers. At Minted, you can personalize your cards with photos and choose between multiple card shapes and colors. The only hard part is making a decision on which card to personalize. {they even have gold foil cards} 

Curious now are we? Not only can you send out New Years cards to your friends and family instead of the traditional Christmas cards, especially for those who celebrate multiple holidays, you can also create holiday party invites! I actually received this card in the mail a few weeks ago! You can get 15% off your holiday card order using the code HOLIDAY15 at checkout. Offer ends at 11:59pmPST on 12/22! Here are a few of my favorites:

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Now, if you're like me and you live on your own, work a little too much and don't have a boatload of people to send holiday cards to yet - Then I'm sure you're also like me in the sense that you still have people to get gifts for this year. These art prints are made by numerous talented people and WOW are they pretty! Want one better? I'm dying over the personalized map prints... Christmas gifts, Wedding Gifts, Birthdays and Anniversaries will never be the same now that I know about these bad boys! {This would be perfect for my mom & dad since they're planning to sell their house and head south!} I love abstract watercolor prints but I never have the guts to try to create them on my own, the prints from minted are the perfect answer! Gallery walls, nightstands, or just a simple gift, you're set. For the rest of these art prints, I'll stop blabbing my mouth and let them do the talking, here are my favorites:

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This is a sponsored post by Minted, all products mentioned were chosen by myself. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Defined Designs possible!

Gift Guide for Her

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Hows that Christmas shopping going? I'm so happy to say that I'm almost done and I'm surprised I'm so on top of it this year! Usually, I'm the biggest procrastinator but this year I'm making that change and I'm so happy about that. I have been at the mall here in Charlotte a few too many time in the past few days, at the apple store {not even gift shopping ugh!} but let me tell you... this is a warning to stay away. I wouldn't touch the mall with a ten foot pole right about now it's THAT busy. 

Well, if you're anything like me and can't really handle those busy crowds this time of year then you're most likely appreciative of the online gift guides that are surfacing from stores and bloggers all over. And if you've missed the other ones you can check them out here; Gal Pals // Hostess // Him I've had a few people contact me asking for help on what to get the girls. You would think that girls would be easy to shop for, especially if you are one.. mom, aunt, cousin, sister, maybe you're still looking for that perfect gift for your coworker or best friend. No worries, because we're covering that today! {stay tuned for next week's last post for the gift guide series: gifts under $25}

Shop the post:

9 Ways to Use Metallic This Christmas

It's that time of year again! The holidays are here... I know I said that last week {and probably the week before} but they are really here now! Thanksgiving was a much needed time for relaxing and spending some quality time with family and now December is here and it's time to decorate! And what more do I love than to decorate. I'm so excited to have my own christmas tree this year, posts on that and all of the fun things I'm planning for the holidays will be up soon! But for now, how about a few ideas on how to use metallics in your home this Christmas/ Holiday season? Here are 9 great ways to use metallic this year:

1. Prop Gifts - Don't leave the underneath of your tree bare until Santa comes to town, wrap a few unwanted boxes with some pretty metallic paper and ribbon and set them right underneath the beautiful tree for display.

2. Table Settings - Having the table set nicely isn't only for fancy dinners and get-togethers. Set a few place settings for some  added decoration in the dining room or kitchen and add some metallic chargers or ribbon around the plates.

3. Pinecones - Pinecones are easy to find up and down the holiday aisles this time of year. Grab a can of metallic spray paint and you could use a handful these in a vase for display or string them to some twine for a garland.

4. Candleholders - Candleholders are easy to find especially when they don't need to be a specific material or color. Spray painting different shapes and sizes will bring in the metallic and bring in a unique touch to your holiday decor. Add different size white candles to each for added contrast. {See here, here, and here}

5. Ornament Displays - Mixed metallic ornaments or ornaments that are spray painted metallic colors - doesn't matter which. Lay them out randomly in a tray or vases to put on display. This would be great for a coffee table or dining table.

6. Wreath - The easiest way to bring metallics into a wreath during the holidays would be with ornaments. You can add them to a traditional wreath with greenery or create a handmade ornament wreath if you're up to the task! {super easy tutorial here}

7. Tree Ornaments - Add some metallic ornaments to your Christmas tree this holiday. This is a little more of a traditional approach but still brings that metallic splash into your home!

8. Stockings - Stockings come in all different colors materials and sizes now. Whether you want to branch out from the traditional red and white and get creative or just add a metallic monogram to it - this is another easy way to add some metallic to your space.

9. Votive Centerpiece - Like the candleholders, you can find an arrangement of votives that are already metallic and scatter them across a table as a centerpiece or find a random variety of glasses and glass vases and spray paint them metallic to all match. Tea light candles are easy to find (and buy in bulk) so you can spend a little more on the glasses and create a fun spread.

Free Shipping!

Did you know that yesterday was National Free Shipping Day? I don't know who came up with that one... But whoever you are - I'd like to give you a big pat on the back. [insert hand clapping emoji here] Yesterday I purchased a Gorgeous statement necklace for my NYE outfit. [Originally $48 - Paid $14 with yep, FREE SHIPPING. BOOM]

So friends, if you missed it, don't you worry. It's not over. Whether you are still looking for those last minute christmas gifts for friends and family. Or you want to do some shopping for yourself. [Santa won't mind..]

Here's the Scoop:

[Crate & Barrel] Free Shipping & Christmas delivery

Order before noon Dec. 20th here

[Anthropologie] Standard Shipping & Christmas Delivery

Order before 1pm Today here

[CB2] Free Shipping & Christmas delivery

Order before noon Dec. 20th here

[Target] Free Shipping & Christmas Delivery

Order by Today here

[World Market] Free Shipping on $100 or more CODE: JINGLES

Christmas Delivery for only $9.95

24 Days of Deals here

[Wisteria] Holiday Shipping Schedule here

Countdown to Christmas Deals here

[West Elm] Holiday Shipping Schedule here

40% off throws through Dec. 20th here

[Hint Hint: MOM & DAD]

Happy Shopping!

Traditional vs. Modern

The Holiday season is a time for giving, friends, family, fun, and spiked eggnog. But you can't forget everything that leads up to the giving, family and of course - alcohol. From the minute thanksgiving is over all the way up to Christmas Eve the decorating is in full swing. But the question in my mind when it comes to decorating for the holidays: [Traditional or Modern] 

For me, I'd like a little mix of both, but we all know thats hard to pull off. [and make it look good] Traditional holiday decor just feels like home to me, so you can never go wrong, but modern decor has such a bright and merry flare to it that you can't help but feel happy when surrounded by it.

Thoughts?

Well, Put on your elf ears and take a seat because we are going to spend today hashing out the greatest aspects of Traditional and Modern Holiday decor! [Want to make a colorful ornament wreath like pictured above? Visit Four Generations One Roof for all the details on this fun and easy DIY project!]

As for the Traditional Decorations:

And for everyone loving the Modern/Non-traditional decorations:

[Traditional] 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

[Modern] 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

And for everyone [like me] in an apartment this season; The prettiest Charlie Brown tree ever.

[via]

Any thoughts or preferences?? How is your home decorated this Holiday Season?

Tabletop Trends: Christmas

Let me take you back a minute to my thanksgiving post on Tabletop Trends.

Alright, now that you're caught up.. lets get started with the Christmas version of that post.

Entertaining seems to be a prerequisite for the holidays. Whether you're hosting your family's Christmas feast, or you're just having a holiday dinner party with your girlfriends - Here's a few tricks and tips that'll have everyone noticing the table! [not to mention they'll notice your craftiness]

 Use extra ornaments to create a unique centerpiece like this.

 Spray paint pine cones for a centerpiece.

 Have extra boxes laying around that your not wrapping presents with? Wrap them up anyways and place them on the table as another type of centerpiece.

Speaking of extras... Wrap some candles up with candy canes and ribbon for table settings.

 Paint everyone's name on an ornament and use them as name tags for seats & place settings.

Turn wine glasses upside down and tie holiday ribbon around the stems for a simple place setting.

 Modern & Traditional ways to hold silverware settings.

[1] Cut a tree out of construction paper or felt to hold silverware

[2] Tie up a napkin and silverware with festive ribbon or twine

Already have plans for the table? Tie some extra large ribbon around the chairs with a bow in the back to make them more festive for the holidays!

For more ideas check out my [Winter Wonderland] pinterest board.  It has everything you could possibly think of for holiday decorating!

xo,

Sunglasses & Snowmen

Today I'm very excited to bring you this DIY holiday project that I whipped up in a few short hours with minimal supplies.  Last night I attended a holiday meet-up with the local charlotte bloggers and it was so much fun. But when I heard it was an ornament exchange I got all giddy with the thought of being able to get creative and crafty for it.

So, I rounded up a few extra pairs of sunglasses my roommate had laying around (she has boxes of these things!) And then I broke out my sorority happy box from college...

As you can see, this thing has EVERYTHING a DIY-er can dream of inside it.  [not to mention it weighs about 50 lbs.]

Don't get intimidated here, there are only a few supplies needed: 

cheap/ old sunglasses

white acrylic paint

ribbon of choice

black fabric paint [could also use a paint pen]

clear glitter fabric paint

quick hold super glue

mod podge

small buttons [optional]

Steps:

[Watch this carefully... this is so easy it will be over if you blink]

Paint the lenses white

Draw the face with black paint/paint pen & a smile made of 'coal' [like the song]

Glue on the buttons  OR draw them on if you don't have buttons!

Tie the ribbon around the nosepiece | glue in place

Glue the hanging ribbon in place and the top ear section [pictured]

Seal with mod podge | let it dry

Put the lenses back in after everything is dried completely! [I let mine dry overnight to be sure] I also added a small, sparkly bow to the top of my 'snowgirl' to make her more feminine

This ornament was a hit at the blogger ornament exchange! I was so nervous it was going to be lame, wondering if I should have just bought an ornament.  Well, I worried for no reason because everyone loved it and Jaime of Sunflowers and Stilettos is the proud owner of my handmade ornament :)

[So happy to meet all of these amazing ladies last night! Can't wait for the next meet-up!]

Would you make this for your tree this holiday?