The Ultimate Gift Guide for Lovers

xoxo

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Whether you’re in a serious relationship or your new boy from Hinge has his 36th birthday coming up this weekend, choosing a gift for your significant other is no walk in the park. As if there weren’t enough emotions involved, here comes the pressure of nailing a gift for the person you just might care about the most in this world. I’m here to say it is totally normal for it to feel like a stressful experience when in the back of your head you’re thinking you should have this unrealistic, filtered shopping experience of pure glee. It’s ok if it doesn’t start that way, but how about let’s make it end that way? 

As far as the stress, according to Shawn M. Burn Ph.D., gift-giving anxiety is something where worrying obsessively over choosing the right gift occurs rather than accepting that we only have so much control over how other people respond to and experience our gift. If you are experiencing gift-giving anxiety, find comfort in the fact that you are giving out of good intentions to someone you love. This should be a delightful, if not fun experience for you so we’ve compiled various ways to choose a gift for your significant other. Remember the big picture, all the anxiety that may come with gift giving doesn’t change the fact that you truly want to get them something special so they know how much you care about them. You’re already winning, sis.

Snoop Gift Guides

If you don’t know where to start, consider checking out gift guides. There’s a gift guide for everyone and so many out there that it’s best to be as specific as possible when searching for a guide all about your guy. Gift guides can be a great way to snag ideas or even find the perfect gift. For example, Instyle compiled The Best Holiday Gifts for the Wellness Buff in Your Life and 15 Fancy Valentine’s Day Gifts Every Fashionista Will Love. Remember, gift guides can be as generic or specific to your man or gf depending on your search so whether your dude is into gaming or your significant other loves coffee table books, there is a gift guide out there for them. You just have to find it.

Love Language

Looking for the perfect gift to show your girlfriend she’s “the one?” Consider her love language. Gary Chapman’s book The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate outlines five ways that you and your significant other experience romance and love. The five love languages are acts of service, gift-giving, physical touch, quality time, and words of affirmation. If you’ve got the time, I recommend snuggling up this weekend with this book and grasping onto Chapman’s bits of love wisdom. You’ll learn a lot not only about your significant other’s love language but your own needs and love language which is just as important. 

No idea what your love language is let alone your boyfriend’s love language and no time to read the book? Take this quiz to discover your love language and ultimately the greatest gift. Now that you know your love language, get creative in giving a thoughtful gift. If your girlfriend’s love language is quality time, scoop her up on your white horse and carry her off to Breckenridge for a weekend of snowboarding or a little less expensive, downtown to your favorite local restaurant and follow up with ice skating. Figuring out his or her love language can be your key to gifting the perfect gift. If their love language is gift-giving, peek the sections “Inexpensive but Still Dope” and “Expensive Gifting.” Say your boo’s love language is acts of service. Take notice of what you could do to make their lives less stressful then gift it. If it’s car insurance that has your girl pulling her hair out, offer to pay it for a couple of months. Is he trying to shake his dad bod? Gift him an Apple Watch that will be a handy gadget on his journey. 

If their love language is words of affirmation, check out “Personalized Items” and “Get Creative” sections. Their love language is physical touch? Treat your significant other to an at-home spa day and pull out all the works. 

No matter the love language, there is a gift to match their vibration.  Quiet down to pick up on non-verbal cues, your partner’s feelings, and clarity for your own. Then just go for it and ask them to take the love language quiz with you. You can unveil after you give the gift that this was your strategy or we can keep it between us.

Inexpensive but Still Dope

By no means do you have to break the bank to get a romantic gift for your significant other. Sometimes the most thoughtful, sweetest gifts to give and receive are the ones where we have to get creative in giving because it involves a memento or memorable experience. Instead of designer, think memorable experience. We want her belly laughing, ugly crying, or speechless by the end of this gift-giving experience. 

So if you have a gift spending limit, check out the “Intimacy Deck” by Best Self Co. which is 150 cards with awesome prompts to get the conversation going and remind you why you’re so in love in the first place. Another great activity for bae’s gift day is a couple journal that lasts for three years and is full of quick Q&As so you can log all the memories you have with each other. Also, consider getting a bucket booklist so you can create a bucket booklist together revolving around your relationship. To spice up date night, snag this 100 Dates Bucket List Scratch Poster from Amazon. And, guys, flowers and plants never go out of style and guarantee a smile.

Charitable Giving

If you’re looking to come together as a couple, consider giving to a charity. A study finds that when it comes to charitable giving, most couples find common ground. Why is that? Elaine Martyn, vice president of Fidelity Charitable’s Private Donor Group says “With household finances, it often feels like you make the money, you save it and you spend it—those are the only three actions. But with giving, there’s a whole dialogue around why you’re doing what you’re doing and how you got there. There is an opportunity to talk about your values and what you believe and what you share.”

If you’ve been with your hubs for a long time, you may be in a spot where you’re thinking you aren’t agreeing on anything why add another to the list. The point of charitable giving is that it actually will be a gift to you and your spouse of reconciliation, a re-lit flame, or surrendering again to each other. You might just have to try it to believe it. 

Think of all the many causes you potentially could give to as a gift for bae: the environment, pet shelters, underprivileged children, and more. Maybe you both are passionate about mental health services. You could make a donation in your significant other’s name and it would be an amazing feeling to give the gift that keeps on giving. 

There are all sorts of brands out there that donate a portion of the proceeds of an item to a charity as well. Take thisKennebunk Bliss Plush Throw from Nordstrom. Their portion of the proceeds is donated to Operation Warm, an organization that provides winter coats to those in need. Or what about this cute ban.do necklace that supports Girls Inc., a nonprofit encouraging young girls to be just as ambitious, bold, and inspiring as she is? The list goes on and on. And so does the giving.

Personalized Items

This is the opportunity to get personal and make some special memories. Personalized gifts are a great way to take your gift giving to the next level. So if your relationship could use going to the next level, check out awesome gifts that let you choose one word about your lovely significant other and then write out a short note on why you chose that word. She won’t take that bracelet off. 

Check out this designer, engravable Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick Balm. She will fawn. Take a risk and create your own fragrance with your own scent kit, messaging and branding at WAFT. Set the mood with Uncommon Good’s Long-distance Friendship Lamp across town or across the world with these in-sync lamps which sounds amazing. Custom Pet Portrait? Raises hand. In love with an adventurer? Slide bae a custom Herschel Little America Backpack. The list truly does go on and on, just like that newfound love so make this gift a personal one.

GUCCI Men's Interlocking G Rubber Slide Sandals

Expensive Gifting

Let’s go all out, have some fun, shall we? Go for it without looking like you’re trying too hard with a sleek, timeless classic item for your guy. Believe me, he will be living in these GUCCI Men's Interlocking G Rubber Slide Sandals. The next one is for when you’ve waited too long to say “I love you,” have some making up to do and need to say those words with every ounce of meaning in them. Say hello to the Louis Vuitton Neverfull GM. Go with the iconic, original Louis Vuitton Monogram pattern. I’m linking it so you know what it looks like and well aware that it is sold out online. Put in work and go to the store. Not near one? Drive baby, drive. I’m telling you from experience, it is so worth it. Also, those two little letters are very important and very expensive but don’t skimp! GM means the largest Louis Vuitton Neverfull and babe needs the biggest. 

I’m giving away a real present now and you’ve read this far so my gift is coming happily to you. In the certain spheres,  you usually don’t give away what perfume or cologne you wear unless you’re kind. It’s like giving away your true secret to success, extra confidential for some. I thought I was wearing one of the best perfumes until a dear friend of mine who is high up in the luxury fragrance world did what few do. He told me the very best cologne for men and very best perfume for women. Here goes! Also, get ready to drop some cheddar. For the women, Creed Aventus For Her by far takes the cake. It is absolutely irresistible. It’s a fresh/floral fragrance but words can’t capture the smell because it truly is just experience. Creed ends the description with the line, “To be near her is to feel the presence of greatness.” Hashtag chills. For the men, Tom Ford Santal Blush dominates at the top. This attractive, mesmerizing scent is a textured fusion of creamy sandalwood and exotic eastern spices enhanced with intoxicating florals and sumptuous woods to create the perfect modern earthiness. Packaging is its nude juice and blush color just “as sensual as a beautifully contoured nude face.” I gave them to you hot, do it what you want but if you trust me, you’ll know real quick why these are the industry’s top, best-kept secrets. 

Creative Gifts

If you’ve been together for years and feel like you’re gifted out, it may be time to get creative. I’m saying really thinking outside-of-the-box. How about you set your hot date up with a couples photoshoot? I’m not talking boudoir, even though if that’s y’all’s jam, no judgement. I’m talking hire an awesome, local professional photographer, go shopping and pay for bae, get her makeup and hair done and choose a gorgeous location. It’s so much fun, and you come out with amazing photos for the gram, for like a year, laughing face, hashtag no shame.

Instead of cooking for her, hire a professional chef to come to your place, set the mood and fine-dine like people ought to. Even if you aren’t a good writer, one of the sweetest, most endearing gifts people get is truly thoughtful love letters and love notes. It puts Fendi to shame. Actually take that back, nothing puts Fendi to shame, but you get where I was going with that. Plan a short day-trip to somewhere and immerse yourselves in the culture for a weekend. It’s a fun ride. If you sing or play guitar, you could write that song you owe him or you could hire a local musician to collaborate with on writing a song for him together. That’s the true chart topper. Splurge on a bottle of wine and tell her y’all are watching Netflix only to turn on the television and have your recorded video message about how grateful you are for her and why you love her start playing. Cue the waterworks.

Heartfelt Gifts

I hope you’ve snagged either an idea or excitement for gifting your special occasion for your significant other. One of the most important things is to remember it really is all about the love that you share and to use this gift as a way to express that love.

The great, Brené Brown said, “I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued: when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.”

Do you want a relationship where you are cherished and can give and receive without judgement? One where you derive sustenance and strength from the relationship? This is a whole other topic for a whole other day but the point is, that relationships are hard work. This special occasion should be a joyous celebration for you two so don’t put too much pressure on yourself to find the perfect gift rather focus your attention on creating that energy between you two where they feel seen, heard and valued. Gift to that.

With the big picture in mind, a litany of ideas and inspo for choosing a gift for your significant other, and a confidence in your connection, you are sure to succeed this special occasion. If your intentions are pure and you wish the best for your future hubs, then take a cue from me and be bold in the way you give and that is to give with your whole heart. Because really if you’re going to do it, go all the way. Step into yourself, listen to what is speaking to you or jumped out at you from this article and be fearless in your love, in your decisions, and in your gift-giving to your significant other. You got this.

Pool SZN Accessories

WAVY VIBES

Pool SZN Accessories

Whether you plan on laying out with girlfriends at your apartment’s pool all summer or spending time basking in the sun at one of Miami’s hottest pools, this summer calls for epic pool accessories. Amp up your poolside look and find out where to score this season’s brightest pool accessories and more.

Versace Gold 'Crete de Fleur' Inflatable Pool Float; $250

Frontgate Butterfly Float; $129

FUNBOY Retro Phone Floatie; $49

Sunnylife Beach Sounds Speaker; $65

Sunnylife Underwater Camera; $29

Sunnylife Beach Cooler Box Sounds Speaker; $160

5 Content Creation Tips For Small Business Owners

BECAUSE IT’S ALL ABOUT THE #BRAND

As a small business owner, your company is your brand. A brand is those first thoughts you think when you hear a person or company’s name. Those are important ones because they often dictate whether the consumer will engage with your brand and convert by purchasing your product or service.

Starting with a brand and social media strategy is critical because you want to have a foundation because it will be the consistent core and essence of everything you do on social media. Building your brand foundation will set you up for success in content creation. You can start with a brand audit and research to see where you currently are, then create brand elements and your brand touchpoints. Then, you will be ready for launch (or pre-launch) on social media.

Now that your brand foundation is in place, let’s dive into content creation tips for small businesses.

1. Brand Photoshoot

A brand photoshoot goes way beyond an updated headshot. It is a creative lifestyle photoshoot that tells your brand story through aesthetically pleasing, high-definition photography and videography. These could be candid shots of you working from your home office or more staged scenes within your store that display your brand message. And don’t forget to get that updated headshot too!

These creative brand photo and video shoots really bring your brand to life. Then, the photos and videos are used across your marketing collateral including social media. Bring a couple different outfits to batch content. From there, you can schedule your social media content calendar with beautiful, high-quality visuals that represent your small business.

2. Social Media Strategy

It’s important to have a social media strategy that outlines your goals, target audience, content plan, platforms you choose to post on and it should all be aligned with your brand message. Go in depth on how you are going to achieve your social media goals by creating, posting, engaging, listening, monitoring and of course, interacting with others. Think about why these goals and strategies will improve your business. Be sure to track and monitor your social media so you know how you actually are reaching your goals which will help you avoid burnout and keep you motivated.

3. Influencer Marketing

Chances are if you’re a local, small business you have influencers within your community. It’s important to choose who represents your brand wisely and it might take some research and searching to find one, few or many (dependent upon your social media strategy plan) influencers within your niche, town or city. But once you do there are plenty of ways to utilize this popular-for-a-reason marketing trend. From social media account takeovers to brand ambassadors to trade or paid campaigns, influencer marketing is no question effective for your business and will make your feeds feel fresh.

4. Content Marketing

Another popular-for-a-reason marketing strategy is content marketing and while it can be done on social media, we tend to think of blogs, articles, webinars and content-rich, valuable resources for this category. Your small business can benefit greatly from content marketing. People don’t want to be sold to; they want to connect with your business and learn or gain something from it.

Content marketing is the process of specific content creation and distribution to a targeted audience. This content is viewed as educational and typically perceived as valuable information. In this type of marketing, the content is a contribution which in turn builds brand awareness and generates leads which turn into sales.

5. Content Themes

There are many apps and tools available to create a content calendar. But what content will be included on that calendar? That’s where content themes come in. Here are a few content themes to promote your business.

• Behind-The-Scenes

• Client Testimonial

• Creative Brand Photoshoot Images and Video

• Giveaway

• Personal Story

• Product or Service Promotional Image or Video

• Meet The Team

• Quotes

• Fun Facts

• Local Events

The list goes on and on! Get creative and remember, always be authentic!

Follow these content creation tips and strategies to up your social media game and grow your small business.

For social media marketing services, contact aok@aoksocial.com.

5 Things To Do At Home

1. Paint Party!

   Fresh coat, check.

2. Create a photo book with Mixbook!

Right now, you can get 50% off all their fun, entertaining products!

3. Crafting Sessions

Bluprint is offering free online craft classes for you, your fam and friends up to April 16th!

4. Get Started on Etsy

Learn to launch and market your business on Creative Live! I love their online classes and wrote about one of Mel Robbins’ classes here.

5. Update Your Content Calendar

Make revising and planning easier with Tailwind and take advantage of their free Instagram training going on now.

Top Birthday Invitation Design Trends

IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY & YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT TO

Basic Invite

A fabulous birthday party begins with fabulous birthday invitations. It sets the tone for the party and lets your guests know what to expect at your b-day bash. Show off your style by using Basic Invite Truly Custom Invitations for your next big event. Basic Invite Truly Custom Invitations offers customizable cards and invitations for all of your life’s big moments. And what could be bigger than your birthday?

Whether you’re planning the party for yourself or that special someone, go all out this year with these top custom birthday invitation design trends. If you’re an awesome b-day planner for your family and friends but a little disappointed on your own day, step it up and plan your own birthday this year! Go flashy, go minimal or go gold just go for it.

TREND: Foil

Gold foil is one of the most popular trends on stationary. We see it on notepads, business cards, books and of course invitation. Basic Invite has free custom foil upgrades to make sure you’re set to shine bright on your day. Whether you choose copper, silver or gold foil, this printing trend instantly elevates your invite. Add luxury, texture and bling to your invitation by choosing foil this birthday month, week or day depending on how long you celebrate your b-day. You do you, though.

TREND: Minimalism

Simplify your birthday invitation for a modern look that’s trending in 2020. Most minimalistic invitations don’t have artwork on them instead, they use the space and text to create a wow-factor. You can say that less is more is always on trend and in this case, it applies to your birthday invitation too! If you go with a minimal birthday invite, it will match any theme of your party! Give your guests the party and invite you want to ‘cause it’s your birthday.

TREND: Have FUN With Color

If you want a fun, unforgettable birthday party, your invite’s design should tell your guests it’s time to celebrate! To do so, use dramatic colors, bold pairings, neon or different color combinations. I love the use of the neon colors in these Basic Invite birthday invitations that pop while the black backgrounds offer a sense of luxe to the design.

Basic Invite has unlimited color combinations and is one of the few websites that allow you to instantly preview infinite color combos online. You can even change the color of each element on a card while choosing from over 180 different colors. You can design the card exactly how you want it down to the smallest detail, which is why Basic Invite is one of the leading online stationery companies. So have fun with it and design an invite that represents you.

TREND: Stunning Envelopes

Choose a trendy envelope with texture to show your personality and party vibe. The envelope is just as important as the birthday invitation. And, Basic Invite is just as colorful with their envelopes as they are with their invitations. They have over 40 different envelope colors you can choose from to seal the deal. Sending out lots of invites for a mega birthday bash? Basic Invite’s envelopes are peel and seal so that the envelopes can be closed quickly and easily to get your designs out fast to your guests.

Basic Invite’s Birthday Invitations

Besides keeping up with the invite trends, it’s awesome using a service that is hassle-free and customizable specifically to your birthday party wishes. You can try it out by ordering a printed sample of the invitation you create so you can see the cards’ paper quality and how it prints before making your final order.

A major bonus is their free address collection service to request your addresses along with free envelope printing on your order. I’d definitely need that service! As far as the rest goes, it’s all up to you on the design! This birthday go big and bold or sleek and gold just remember it’s the first, important step in making memories with people you love on your big b-day.

Check out Basic Invite at https://www.basicinvite.com/ and follow them on instagram for more inspiration @BasicInvite. And don’t forget to invite me. #FOMO

Bring On Spring With These Eco-Friendly Brands

Ready For Spring

Here are some of my favorite eco-friendly brands right now! Get some fresh air, vibes and green products as we head into one of my favorite seasons (I kinda love them all).

Real Rose Wood Wanderer Sunglasses by WUDN

Real Rose Wood Wanderer Sunglasses by WUDN

WUDN

Styling WUDN’s real rose wood wanderer sunglasses and #loving the industry-leading polarized lenses with 100% UVA/UVB protection because I like darker lenses with high clarity which these provide along with being scratch resistant.

WUDN has a great collection of eco-friendly, real wood products that are locally sourced and made in Hidden Springs, Idaho for superior quality, durability and sustainability. The sunglasses I’m wearing combined locally sourced, sustainable American Black Walnut wood with eco-friendly acetate frames to make the perfect pair of spring shades. WUDN offers products other than sunglasses like bamboo power banks, phone cases and tech accessories.

Real Rose Wood Wanderer Sunglasses by WUD

Every Pair Plants One Tree

WUDN partnered with One Tree Planted and for each pair of sunglasses sold, WUDN will donate $1 to plant a tree. And yes, it only takes $1 to plant an entire, magnificent tree. One Tree Planted is a nonprofit focused on global reforestation. To donate or see how you can get involved, visit their website https://onetreeplanted.org/. You can use the code ALLISONGAPPA for 20% off at shopwudn.com. Go plant a tree, please.

Recontained

Beautiful bottles, branding and mission, Recontained is a zero waste store specializing in a wide range of personal care & household cleaning products in a refillable format. They offer a wide variety of eco-lifestyle products. Personally, I tried the body wash and loved everything about it! Check them out at recontained.com and get 10% off with the code ALLISONLUVSRECO10.

Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo

MVP Status

Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo is one of the best shampoo and conditioner sets I have ever used and definitely the best smelling products. When you got it, it’s worth the splurge. The best part? It’s vegan and cruelty-free. Purchase at neimanmarcus.com.

Also MVP Status

For a much lower price than Oribe but still awesome & vegan is the Love Beauty and Planet brand. I’ve used the shampoo and conditioner before and I love it. You can pick it up at Target, Walgreens or Walmart as you’re racing through the grocery store to get back outside to the spring sunshine. Be a ray and buy eco-friendly or vegan. Drop your fave green brands in the comments or send me an email with whatever is on your mind!

VLOG: The Rentz Team at Keller Williams Family Reunion 2020

#VLOGTEAM or The Rentz Team, a top-producing real estate team in Tulsa, Oklahoma, just got back from Keller Williams Family Reunion 2020 in Dallas, Texas.

Check the VLOG & if you want to talk real estate or connect, drop a comment or send a email to allisongappa@gmail.com.

Influencer Gear List

POSTS ON POINT

#Influencer

First up, you don’t need to buy expensive gear to be a successful influencer, blogger or content creator. There are so many different aspects that go into this evolving industry. But high-quality content requires high-quality production so here’s a list of my favorite go-to tools. This list of gear is equipment I’m currently using or have used to create content on multiple platforms.

Cameras

1. Canon T6 EOS Rebel DSLR

   This was my first still photography camera I owned and I had this exact bundle you can purchase on Amazon. It’s the perfect beginner camera. I have experience filming with video cameras but still is a completely different game. Stick this bae on auto for high-quality photos with little still photography experience. You can shoot on manual by learning and researching a couple settings that can improve your shots. I liked the bundle because it comes with cards, a battery pack, a camera bag and an extra lens. Be careful with the tripods. I’ve had two bundle tripods snap on me and the wrong fall from a snapped tripod leg could damage your new cam. This DSLR is sturdy though. lol. Another tip, be careful how you clean your lens. Read up, use the provided cleaner in the kit and you’ll be fine.

2. Canon EOS M50 Mirrorless Digital Camera

The Canon EOS M50 Mirrorless Digital Camera was my second big girl still photography camera. If you are a YouTuber, vlogger or cinematic videographer looking for a great 4K mirrorless cam, this is the one for you. Mirrorless cameras are typically lighter and better for video and DSLRs can take better photos and tend to be heavier. I think this mirrorless camera is a great price for how stunning the 4K video is and the handy touchscreen that flips out to the side makes it easy if you’re filming by yourself.

Lighting

Lighting is key. Since the rise of the influencer, blogger, vlogger, YouTuber and video content creator, companies are creating professional video and photo lights for this specific niche. The most popular is a ring light set. If you search on Amazon, it seems impossible to know which ones are any good.

My favorite ring light is the Aduro U-Stream Studio 10” Ring Light and it comes with a tripod that has an impressive adjustable height. The tripod adjusts from 18”- 52” which will come in handy more than you know. It has three different lighting options: white, warm yellow and warm white and ten different levels of brightness. My fave combo is white and max brightness.

If you’re spending money on a professional camera, you gotta invest in lighting. You can set your camera up on another tripod, angle your ring light to face you straight on, or stream or film from your phone by placing it in the ring light’s adjustable phone holder right in the center. It’s USB powered so no worries about running low on battery, just make sure you have a USB port to plug into and you’re ready to start creating or streaming the next big thing. Use the code ALLISONGAPPA for a huge 50% off of Aduro’s influencer-approved products here!

Osmo Mobile 3

From vlogging to Facebook Live videos, the Osmo Mobile 3 has become the standard for creating cinematic videos that look like your very own Hollywood film. It takes some getting used to and a bit of practice but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be pumping out vlogs on YouTube that are smooth, catchy and keep-on-watching worthy. It’s the perfect size to throw in your backpack, purse or luggage to take with you on your next adventure or business trip for all the views. Professional videographers use it to cover sports or get footage that creates a “wow factor.”

For more gear faves and software must-haves, sign up below to connect on everything production, marketing and of course, #influencer content.

Your Brand Design Essentials

The Brand

Whether you’re thinking about starting a business, taking on a side hustle, switching job hustles completely or are just a human - you have a brand. Either you create it or it’s created for you, hey 2020! Big companies slaying the brand game for years have lots of people, money and brand security. You know… Apple, Lexus, Gucci, Nike, McDonald’s, Walmart… the list goes on and on and on. Even personal brands that are successful for YouTube stars, celebrities and pro-athletes are years in the making so when it comes to starting from square one… by yourself… well, you feel like you’re suiting up getting ready to climb a mountain you can’t see the top of and then sky dive back down to land. But #branding is a must, which is why starting and taking action might be the scariest part. So let’s get started.

Brand Basic Design Materials

First up, you’ll want to discover what your brand stands for, write a mission statement, create a business plan paired with a marketing plan and strategies to carry out marketing campaigns. Get your brand a name you’re ready to tattoo on your neck. No, really. Next up, logo. And if you didn’t take a graphic design class in college and you seem to be living on Canva, I’ve got the one-stop brand shop to design that and a lot more for you.

DesignPax

DesignPax is for small businesses, start-ups and personal brands no matter the size. Their custom design services only take 48-hours for you to look over your different branding and marketing materials. Plus, they have affordable flat-rate pricing with free revisions on your unique custom design every time. You can use the code ALLISONGAPPA for 20% all your creative desires at https://dealspotr.com/getcode/moqQN.

DesignPax will take care of your marketing wishes in record time but back to the basics, these are the services I’d suggest getting now.

• Custom logo design

• Business cards

• Custom email design that you’ll use for your email marketing campaigns. It’s important to build those relationships and your email list so make sure your promotion or newsletter is representing your brand well.

• Shopify services if you’re selling products. DesignPax is available to consult on store setup, can assist in designing graphics for your pages, or can help with some basic customizations and development.

• Website is a must-have, gotta have one. I use Squarespace, but you do take time designing and sometimes buy third-party designs anyway so if you want to skip the hassle, DesignPax offers premium custom websites. They say it will capture your brand and showcase your company and products in the best way possible.

This was one of my fave examples! You can head into your design consult with your brand color palette already selected, pre-written web content, like your tag lines or about page, or even the info and inspo you have in your mind for your flashy, new biz cards!

Sign up for AOK Social’s emails for more branding tips and design inspiration!

Tulsa's Hot Districts: Brookside

YOUR GUIDE TO BROOKSIDE

Brookside Brings It All

Brookside boasts it all. From top-notch entertainment, great food, local shops and fun events, you’re sure to have a good time hanging out in this area. It’s our first district we are featuring on Tulsa Custom Homes because we didn’t want to pick a side, so we picked Brookside.

So where is Brookside? South Peoria Avenue between 33rd and 51st street in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It’s known for it’s quaint boutiques, art galleries and delicious restaurants that has awesome nightlife that brings on the crowds. That’s why it’s evolved from a historic housing scene to a trendy place to live.

Brookside Means Business

Brookside is a thriving business district in Tulsa. And when I say business, I’m not just talking about the one-of-a-kind boutique, art gallery or even the hot, new sushi joint. There’s a lot more sides to Brookside than that.

Take Slate for example. Have you ever had an organic spray tan before? Have you ever even heard of an organic spray tan before? Located in the heart of Brookside, Slate is sleek and refined with a touch of edge exudes in this district.

“I love owning a business in Brookside! Being a part of a community that is thriving and growing helps push us to strive for even more! I am constantly motivated by other local business owners when I see them expanding and achieving their own goals.”

— MARIANA AGUILAR, OWNER OF SLATE

Slate Organic Airbrush Tanning is just one of the many thriving businesses in this district. Owner Mariana Aguilar said, “Slate is so much more than just a comfortable place to get the most natural looking spray tan. It is a socially-conscious business pioneering a new path in the beauty industry to help us all feel more confident, appreciated and connected.”

The best word to describe Brookside? Mariana Aguilar said, “Supportive! The Midtown Brookside area is a community that really gives back and supports local businesses. It's been a huge shock for me just to see how much support we receive from this particular area as well as other areas of Tulsa.”

As an expert in the area, here are her favorite Brookside spots:

• Beauty - Z Hair Studio and Odette Nail Bar

• Food - Pure Food and Juice, Old School Bagel, Blaze Pizza, Mondo's Ristorante Italian and KEO Asian Cuisine

• Shopping - Stash and Haley’s Boutique

From Farmers’ Market to Fine Dining

Neon lights and Friday nights, Brookside is the hangout spot for great dinner and drinks. There are so many restaurants to choose from whether you want to chill on the patio at R Bar and Grill or have a fine dining experience. What is great about wherever you choose is that the atmosphere is awesome. It’s just what you want when you’re looking for a night out, an unforgettable brunch or just to grub down on some amazing food.

You can grab a bite at the classic hamburger stand or you can grab a veggie at the local farmers’ market. Brookside’s Farmers’ Market is every Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. May through September at the Brookside Church parking lot (southeast corner of 36th Street and Peoria Avenue). It has over 20 local growers, producers, prepared food and artisan craft vendors you won’t want to miss it.

Be A Brooksider

You can live, work, and play all in Brookside. It’s the closest district to the Gathering Place, Tulsa’s Riverfront Park. The Gathering Place was named the best new attraction in the country by USA TODAY.

The residential area is primarily single family homes. The homes range from historic neighborhoods with beautiful architecture to ultra-contemporary homes. Condominiums and apartments like The Enclave at Brookside attract young professional residents. It's a healthy mix of mid to late 20 year olds, families with young children and couples who are 50 or older. The housing scene is related to Brookside’s urban environment; diverse with many different sides.

What’s your favorite spot in Brookside or do you want to know more about Brookside? We’d love to chat in the comments so drop us a line. Be sure to check back as we continue to feature Tulsa’s Hot Districts. See you on the flip side or in Brookside!