[gasparilla 2013]

i had the distinct pleasure of working this year on gasparilla (the money calls...), but that didn't stop me from getting in the mood for what is any Tampa resident's favorite holiday. it seems pirate themes worked their way into my wardrobe last week - check out these selfies!

[above: striped peplum top, target. red twill skinnies, h&m. necklace, 

cheap store that i can't remember. watch, target. camel tote, thrifted coach. heels, gifted.]

[below: blurred stripe scarf, target. top, victoria's secret. jacket, forever21. jeans, thrifted urban outfitters. boots, target.]

i might like target, a little.

[you're invited]

invitations... at one point in the planning process, the very word evoked nothing but stress. after finalizing our guest list - a major feat since we were both pretty adamant about having a small wedding...small. our initial draft of our list brought us over 100 people and, frankly, panic. we couldn't hold that many people at our venue (as my fourth grade teacher graciously offered her home), nor could we afford that many people. after working our list down to under 70 people, we could start making our invites.

the invitation creation:
how to spend $9 and make over 75 invitations, plus envelopes and thank you cards.

so, i created our invites in Word. yes, microsoft WORD. No photoshop or any other fancy elements, because our invites were so simple I didn't need them. I did have the luxury of having access to a laser printer, which I would highly recommend since there is no risk of smudging or bleeding, and no dry time.

the invitation print:

I got the paper i used from Michael's craft store, and since they frequently offer 40 or even 50% off coupons regularly, I was able to buy all the materials needed for our invites for $9. We chose not to have RSVP cards, but instead to have our family and friends reply to an email address. This made things easier on us to count those that were coming and allowed us to keep the invites very simple.  We replied to each RSVP with additional information about what to wear, gifts, and an idea of what to expect.

final product:

here are some shots of the final product!

[a tip: hand cancel your invites by taking them into the post office when you send, and requesting that they all be "hand cancelled". this prevents your invites from having a bunch of stamped writing on them, and they will look much more polished. this is free to do!]

thank yous:

we also made thank-yous using the same paper.  when i bought these smaller cards and envelopes, they happened to be on sale. the paper for all 50 of our thank-yous cost under $5!

if you have a DIY invitation story, i would love to hear it!

-ash

[nye 2012]

i digress momentarily - as I am slowly compiling wedding posts, i am pausing to do a fun nye post. after my husband was asked to do an amazing rooftop event here in tampa, i dug through my closet to try to find something that would be fitting for a new year's out. (normally, the couch is about as far as we would want to go!) enjoy my last minute picks.

[trying to pick out an outfit]

[decided on some blue eyeliner and gold shadow]

[spikes and curls]

[finished product as a self-portrait]
target necklace, nastygal dress, cheap tights, forever21 booties

[hubby playing drums on nye]

[oh, the dancing]

[partying the night away]

[blurry end of the year]