So remember last June, when I was all “see y’all on Tuesday I’m going out of town for the weekend.”

…and then I came back a married woman?

Well it’s officially been a year (*cough* and a month) (*cough* and some change)! Which means it was a good excuse to have a nice meal and give each other presents.

We went the traditional route and decided to give paper gifts to each other. My dad has always said paper is the first anniversary gift because you’re so poor you can only afford a card your first year. But a card is too easy – nay, too simple – for us. You can’t marry two people who work in advertising to buy a PREMADE CARD, PEOPLE.

Besides, I never color within the lines, anyway.

I knew I wanted to give a paper-related gift that included  our mugs, so I headed straight to Etsy to find a patient soul that could make a portrait of us. And while there were some really nice and creative choices, nothing seemed to jump out to me. Also, I didn’t want to spend $500 on the ones that did. Also, I was a fool to show Ben the Blurb Wedding Book I had made a few weeks before our anniversary because that could have totally worked. But again, too simple.

Then I met Lise of lilimandrill.

She took this:

And turned it into THIS:

Now, I realize the stamp isn’t made of paper. But I figured since it would go on every single piece of paper we ever send out it was still within the paper-gift-giving realm. Yes, even when we pay our electric bill. Ben insists.

And speaking of the mister, this pretty much sums up why marrying him was the best decision I’ve ever made:

I WOKE UP TO A SPONGE BOB (shutup) PINATA.

A pinata. TOTALLY a paper gift. I overlooked the minor detail that it was filled with non-paper candy.

These were also stuffed inside:

You might recognize the design from the cameos Ben and I had done during our Disney trip. I particularly enjoy that we are so vain we both decided on gifts that concerned our faces.

Now our friends will see our sweet book plates and feel shame for borrowing a book of ours and never returning it. Shame, I tell you, SHAME!

So what did you and your significant other do on your first year anniversary? Do you (or will you) go the traditional or modern gift-giving route?

If you are about to celebrate your very own first anniversary, here are some ideas!

• Tickets: Movie, theatre, airline, or concert (I spent about five minutes looking up Smashing Pumpkins dates until I realized it wouldn’t be much of a present if I stood next to my husband with my hands over my ears the entire time).
• Blurb photo book: They are truly an amazing company and offer really great prices with quick turn-around time. Plus they will keep your order open for reprints should you decide to hand them out to family or friends as well (hello Christmas gifts).
• Custom portrait. I am really digging jordyluxe’s custom cartoon portraits that are extremely cute and equally affordable (she can even include your pet(s))!
• Personalized stationary/return address labels: Everything looks nicer with “From the Desk of Mr. & Mrs…”
• Books: May I suggest a collection of Pablo Neruda love poems?
• Handmade Calendar: Customize dates that are special to only you and your sweetie.
• And, um, obviously pinatas and book plates. You can actually contact me to get with my husband who designed and printed ours.

Even though *I’ve* been complaining about it for months now, we can all agree that summer is here. And if you can’t, please tell me where you live so I can buy a one-way ticket immediately to your city and plan to spend the next three months living on your couch.

This is my official summer outfit most days:

Cotton Skirt + T-shirt + Denim Jacket = Winner

Even though I have to deal with sweltering temperatures, I spend most of my time in frigid offices/movie theaters/restaurants (thanks, Florida!), so a jacket is more necessary than you might think.

I also dig a lot of natural materials when it comes to summer accessories, too. I whipped up the brooch and bought the bracelets at a local boutique, but they would require little skill or time if you had extra fabric and were feeling particularly crafty.

Even though I am not a big t-shirt girl I have grown to love them with a simple, full skirt.They are easy to mix and match and it’s my favorite go-t0 weekend outfit.

Jacket, Target

T-shirt, Old Navy

Skirt, Thrifted

Sandals, Old Navy

I know this outfit is probably a little out of what most of you would normally wear, but I think it’s easily recreatable in your own wardrobe and it will look cute on any chick (I know this because there is this one restaurant I go to where every waitress does it and I find it so summery and feminine). So, y’know, mix and match colors and patterns and show me what you’ve got!

Here is some inspiration to help:

1) Sweater – Forever 21 2) Skirt – yesstyle.com 3) Shirt – dresscodeclothing.com 4) Sandals – Forever 21