[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]T[/dropcap]he best gifts are the ones she would never get for herself, like this luxurious Tory Burch soap set ($48). It’s ideal for the hostess or the hard-to-buy for aunt who seems to have everything. But don’t be surprised if they end up in an apothecary jar to be admired. The packaging makes them almost too pretty to use.
[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]I[/dropcap] have tons of digital images that I’d love to get printed and framed, but the fact of the matter is I’m too lazy to put in the effort. This is precisely why I’m a huge fan of Instantly Framed, a new app that allows you to upload a digital photo and have it printed and framed within a week. Best of all? It’s only $65 and that includes three-day shipping. (There’s even a $10 discount at the end of this post for you.) I was given the opportunity to try out the service a couple of weeks ago and it’s just as seamless as I had hoped and the final product is outstanding.
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After installing the app, the first step of the process is really the most difficult: choosing a photo. You have the opportunity to select an image from your photo album, Instagram, or Facebook. You can also take a photo on the fly if you’re confident enough with your photo skills. I knew right away that I wanted to frame an Instagram from our trip to Belgium and I debated between this one, this one, and this one.
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Of those three, I went with the third option: a snapshot from a morning at Moeder Lambic. We spent almost every morning at the restaurant, getting a leisurely start to the day with beer and quiche. This little snapshot brings back those happy memories each time I look at it. While I could have uploaded the image right from Instagram, I opted to tweak the colors just a bit in VSCOcam first.
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After the hard part is done, all you need to do is import the photo and select your image size. I liked the artsy 4″ x 4″ version, but I thought it might be too small for all the detail in my image and opted for the 6″ x 6″. All frames are 12″ x 12″ and come from wood forested on an FSC-certified tree farm in Ashland, Wis. (my hometown!). Each walnut frame is hand crafted with a black finish that emphasizes the wood grain. There is a thick cardboard backing on the frame that is made out of recycled materials. You have the option of either hanging your new image or using the easel backing.
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And with that, you’re ready to check out. The photo takes a couple of days to print then it’s sent to you with free three-day shipping. The entire process takes about a week, so you still have plenty of time to consider an Instantly Framed photo for holiday giving. (You could earn major Brownie points with mom by scanning an old photo of you and your siblings and having that framed.) Order by Monday, Dec. 15 to save $10 on each order.
DISCOUNT CODE:
CIBEDKNOBS10
I know the photo in the first image isn’t the best (daylight savings time is still screwing my photo schedule, leading to some overexposed shots to compensate for the darkness), but it’s quite pretty in person. I’m considering having a few more snapshots framed to create a gallery wall of our special mini moments on vacation.
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Disclosure: I received a framed photo from Instantly Framed for the purposes of this post. This does not influence my opinions of the company or the product. As always, thank you for supporting the brands that support Bedknobs & Baubles.
[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]I[/dropcap] don’t know about you, but I still have plenty of people to check off my holiday shopping list. The thought of spending hours scouring multiple sites for the perfect presents is overwhelming, which is why I’m wrapping up my gift giving with a single shopping destination for clothes, shoes, accessories, and more: Zappos.
I recently had the opportunity to experience just how stress-free shopping with Zappos could be. As part of a collaboration with the retailer, bloggers were paired up for a Zappos Present Palooza and tasked with purchasing a present that suits the style of her giftee. I was partnered with Jessica over at Lipstick, Heels and a Baby. The gorgeous momma-to-be and I have pretty different styles, which was a little daunting at first. (No one wants to give someone a gift she doesn’t love!) But I’m happy to share that Zappos made it easy to find a gift to brighten her holiday. Once I narrowed down the product category to Bags & Handbags, I was able to sift through the results by brand (the gal loves Rebecca Minkoff!), color, and price to find this beautiful crossbody. I still had part of my budget left, so I headed off to the jewelry section in search of a pair of earrings. It seems that Jessica and I were on the same wavelength! I received this darling Kate Spade crossbody bag in Saffiano leather (see it in action here) and a pair of earrings by the brand. If you’re not sure where to start, the Zappos Gift Guide has plenty of ideas to delight those on your list.
After you’ve made your selections, Zappos makes it easy to send the items directly to the recipient with fast, free shipping. (Consider signing up for Zappos VIP service for free next business day shipping.) If your gifts somehow fall short, Zappos offers a 365-day return policy and world-class customer service to make sure your loved ones are ecstatic about their gifts (or their exchanges if it comes to that). Happy Shopping!
This post is sponsored by Zappos. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Bedknobs & Baubles possible.
[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]I[/dropcap]’ve been coming across great gift ideas that I’m afraid will sell out by the time I put them in a gift guide, so I thought I’d start sporadic “Perfect Present” posts to keep you in the loop on these finds. Kate Spade’s Surprise Sale started today. I’ve got my eye on this bottle stopper for holiday gifting. At just $17 (plus $5 shipping), it’s the perfect hostess gift for those on a budget. Just add a bottle of booze if you’re feeling extra festive!
