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!

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!

Last Minute Gifts Under $25

Alright, Alright, we're getting down to the wire on the Holiday Shopping. The first day of Hanukkah was yesterday and Christmas is next week!! Can you believe it? The holiday parties are piling up on the calendar and you've got to get a hostess gift, or a gift for that yankee swap gift exchange... or you're a last minute shopper and need something for a coworker. I mean, who wouldn't want this Beyonce inspired coffee mug...? & these candles smell so delicious you could eat them! This is the last gift guide and might be one of my favorites so trust me I had numerous items on this list. Somehow I was able to narrow it down to 9 items {to make things a little simpler for you} This last gift guide will hopefully help you in a crunch; here's my UNDER $25 gift guide!

For the Fashionista: west elm // anthro
For the Coffee Lover: c. wonder // urban outfitters
For the Wine-O: world market
For the Decorista: anthro
For the Organizer: j. crew
For the Homebody: nordstrom // anthro

Still stumped? Check out my other gift guides:

Gal Pals // Hostess // Him // Her

Shop the Gift Guide:

Gift Guide for Her

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

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:

Gift Guide for Him

It always turns out that the most difficult people to shop for on my Christmas list are my parents. We're a very simple family, and now that they've been empty nesters for a while now they live by the motto "If we have each other during the holidays, thats all we need" Shopping for their gifts this time of year is never an easy task. First, we'll cover dad. Since my dad is a kid at heart, loves his beer and also happens to be a great cook, I'm going to assume that most of these gifts can double as the perfect gift for a boyfriend, husband, uncle or even brother. I would share more specifics on what I actually got him this year, but he's probably going to read this.. hi dad! So we'll save that for later.

For the beer lover:
beer making kit // personalized beer flight // personalized bottle opener
For the cook:
canvas tool apron // tortilla maker
Miscellaneous:
barware + tray set // watch box // copper mugs // whisky stones

Shop my picks for him:

Gift Guide: Gal Pals

Tis the season... To get started on your holiday shopping! I didn't think I would be thinking about all my holiday shopping this early but I went to Starbucks the other day and when they gave me a red cup a little bit of that holiday cheer went right through me! I don't know about you but I just love buying gifts and shopping for all of my girlfriends. I'm starting my shopping lists early this year to be sure that they can all use their gifts to the fullest.... not to mention that I'm a huge procrastinator and last year one of my girlfriends didn't get her gift until March. Whoopsie! Check out my favorite gifts for all of your best girlfriends this year, and of course they are great for home and apartment living!!

Shop the Post:

5 Fall DIY's

Happy Friday! The weather is getting colder, Sundays are soon to be spent curled up on the couch watching movies with friends instead of sitting on patios enjoying the warm weather.  Let's embrace the sun setting early and the leaves falling to the ground by spending those chilly days inside doing a few DIY's. One more thing... Most of these DIY's would also make great gifts for the holidays!

1. Gold Leaf Bowls - These beauties will bring back those middle school art days with a little bit of paper mach and a whole lot of gold leaf! Great for holding jewelry!

2. Chai Candles - Hostess gifts, dinner party favors, or even just for yourself around the house.. bring that Starbucks chai tea into the home this winter season!

3. Gold Initial Ornament - You cannot go wrong with a little gold leaf this season. Or a lot, your choice. Personalize your christmas tree with these pretty little things or give one as a winter house warming gift!!

4. Watercolor Mugs - These mugs. oh my. They're so easy I want to make them in stock and send one to every single one of my friends! They're soooo adorable I just can't handle them!

5. Polka Dot Napkins - I know, I know, enough with the gold. I'm sorry! But how perfect are these DIY napkins. You could also turn these into placemats for an adorable table setting that could double into New Years Eve!

Which one of these will you be gifting this year?

Mother's Day Gift Guide

Mother's Day is right around the corner! If you left picking out this years gift to the last minute and you've found yourself in a scramble to find the perfect gift, have no fear! Here is my little gift guide to the perfect mother's day gift with a little help from one of my go-to stores, West Elm.

all images courtesy of West Elm

1. For the Reader {Agate Bookends | $32 Set of 2}

2. For the Chef {Wooden Cookbook Stand | $30 ON SALE!}

3. For the Entertainer {Tile Print Glassware | $32}

4. For the Collector {Glass Shadow Box | $69 ON SALE!}

5. For the Organizer {Stacked Apothecary Jars | $34-$49 MONOGRAMMED!}

6. For the Lounger {Chain Lock Throw | $69 ON SALE!}

7. For the Coffee Lover {Potter's Workshop Mug | $8}

8. For the Gardener {Brass Base Terrarium | $ 29-$59 prices vary with size}

9. For the Foodie {Serving Platter | $80 ON SALE!}

Which gift would best fit your mom for Mother's Day?

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!

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?

10 Gift Ideas Under $30

I'm sure everyone can relate to having that one friend who is the hardest to shop for around the holidays. Or the fear of needing a last minute gift for a co-worker or yankee swap. Today I have put together a list of 10 [6 for her & 4 for him] gift ideas that anyone would love! The best part...? 

They're all under $30

West Elm | West Elm | Anthropologie | Anthropologie | CB2 | Crate & Barrel

West Elm | West Elm | Crate & Barrel | Crate & Barrel

Wonderful Wall Art

With the Holiday's full speed ahead, I know everyone is preparing their wish lists and pondering what they want most this Holiday season.  Whether it's a new pair of boots, the new iPhone 5s, or even just some good ole' cash money from family to help with your student loans [what me? no, never...]

Well, If you're a little stumped with writing your wish lists I think today's post will help you complete it!  Hopefully you'll enjoy these wall art pieces as much as I do! OR- if you're looking for something to buy FOR someone this holiday and are stumped with what they might want, Joss & Main has helped their shoppers out by including which items can be on your doorstep and under the tree in time for the Holidays. [very thoughtful of them - right?]

Runway Library Canvas Print

Pursuit of Happiness Canvas Print

Hey Lolita Canvas Print

Bed of Roses Canvas Print

Infinite Glam Canvas Print

Kashmir India Canvas Print

These are just a handful of my picks from this flash sale.  To see the entire collection of art and decor available, the curated collection is called The Accent Wall. In my opinion, Wall Art is never a bad idea for a gift.  It's something that is quickly interchangeable and can spice up a space within minutes and minimal moving and rearranging.

So, with that - Happy Shopping! P.S.There's only 2 days left on this sale!