Lifestyle

Costume Party Prep: Invitations

September 26, 2013

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While we still have a lot of house prepping to do before we throw our costume party, we knew we had to get our invitations circulating.  We went back to the format of our first party’s invitations and decided to dress up for a quick photo for a few reasons.  First, although we’ve always had almost everybody in costume at our parties, we’re in a new town and we want to make sure our new neighbors and friends know that we mean costume business. ;)  We also decided it would be a good idea to include Greta in the photo since there are always a lot of questions (even though we include it on the invitation) if kids are welcome.  We like keeping things family friendly and hope that Greta’s cute mug will drive that point home. I mean, how cute is she:

If I had to list a third reason for going back to the photo format, it would be we love the challenge of putting together costumes for exactly zero dollars for these.  We are “busy” “working” on our actual costumes behind the scenes, but for the invitation, we give ourselves 30 minutes to get something together.  Luckily, this time around we had access to my parents’ dress up collection to rummage through. I ended up with part of my dad’s old air force uniform. Chris put on a lot of fake fur and jewelry and called himself a p.i.m.p. and our little Native American is actually wearing a belt around her head. :)

When it comes to fonts, I usually google around for “free Halloween fonts.” This year, I decided on “Flesh” and “Fright” from the collection this bloggerput together.

A lot of of our friends will see the invitation virtually, but we are also printing out several to hand out to new neighbors that we haven’t connected with online yet–and really, that’s almost more fun anyway. Anyone else throwing a halloween party this year? You can check out our first invitations (and the outtakes) here and our second invites right here.

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What do you think?

  1. Aw, what awesome invitations. So envious of your party skillz… Halloween is my favorite. Mostly, we will just be trying to scare the crap out of trick-or-treaters. :)

  2. Awesome. Great invitation! And love the one from the first year too. Looks like a great time to be had :)

  3. Melissa says:

    We are distressed that there is no costume Halloween party in our neighborhood this year- we may have to throw it! :) Miss you guys!

  4. I cant even. Chris wins [sorry girls]. It’s just too perfect.

  5. Lindsey F says:

    Chris looks like Macklemore! Great invite Julia!!

  6. Brandon says:

    We’ve decided to be the party throwers here in our neighborhood now that we don’t have your party to go to.

  7. Anonymous says:

    I hope this isn’t your real address (due to creepy stalkers).

  8. Anonymous says:

    I’m so disappointed that you chose “Native American” for Greta’s costume. It’s insensitive and demeaning to appropriate entire cultures as “costumes” and I really hope you’ll reconsider.

    • Eh. Children in elementary schools across the country dress up as pilgrims and native americans to celebrate our country’s heritage year after year. Although this isn’t Greta’s actual costume this year, we don’t consider this demeaning at all. Sorry if you do, though!

    • Oh geez. Anonymous strikes again.

    • It’s the same as people dressing up in Mexican clothing (which I am) on Cinco De Mayo, or people dressing up as the Irish on St. Patrick’s day. What is the big deal? It is celebrating culture. United States is a melting pot – that is what makes us special.

    • Ginet says:

      “Native American” costume?! I mistook her costume as a hippie or trendy hipster…

    • Haha. It was actually my costume from growing up. The back has a leather insert with feathers on it or something. And she’s wearing the matching little skirt. Memories!! We’ll leave it open for interpretation.

    • Anonymous says:

      There is something to be said for replying to people like “Anonymous” politely. You’re selling a blog with your personality on it…so if you can’t find anything “nice and polite” to say as a response; it’s better to just not reply at all. You don’t have to be like YHL and respond to e v e r y comment.

    • Hmm, not really sure what you’re referring to…??

    • Anonymous says:

      I think that person is referring to the fact that when someone disagrees with you or a choice you made, you or your husband respond with very thinly veiled condescending replies. You could have just said, “I hope no one is offended by her costume! We would never mean to hurt anyone’s feelings.” Saying that “everyone does it and it doesn’t offend us” is ridiculous. Of course YOU don’t think it’s demeaning, YOU aren’t Native American. Either ignore negative comments or work on your tone. This isn’t the way to “grow” your blog.

    • Hi there, I am a Native American reader of your blog and I think the costume is offensive. I also find your response to the Anonymous comment dismissive and closed minded. I’d suggest reading this blog post if you’re interested in and open to how real Natives feel about this: http://nativeappropriations.com/2011/10/open-letter-to-the-pocahotties-and-indian-warriors-this-halloween.html

  9. Chris does PIMP and slimy veryyyyyy well!! Hahahahahahahahaaaa this pic is awesome.

    Those fonts are awesome! Man–I’m really hoping we are all together for one of these Halloween parties!

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