To Forty- And Beyond!

Forgive my Toy Story reference, but you know I have two young ones in the house!! What a week, month, and year it has been. I am officially forty. The Mr and I enjoyed a dinner out, just the two of us at one of our favorite restaurants (Godmothers too) Ortolan. They are running a little price fix special just in time for my birthday! Had to head over!!!


Ortolan is decadent!!! Here was our menu!

First Course Choice of:

 Tomato Coulis
Yogurt Sorbet / Confit Tomato Tartare
~
Marinated Salmon
Lemongrass Sorbet / Ginger / Ponzu
~
Seared Scallop
English Pea Coulis / Lentil Gnocchi / Parmesan Emulsion 

Second Course Choice of:

Braised Short Ribs
 Risotto with Spring Vegetables
~
Lobster Spaghetti
Beef Jus / White Asparagus Cream
~
 Potato Ravioli
Morel Mushroom / Fava Beans / Scallion

Third Course Choice of:

Vanilla Honey Panna Cotta
“Strawberry Caviar”
~
Chocolate Ganache
 Brownies / Chocolate Sorbet
~
 Lemon Tart
Tangerine Sorbet / Citrus Supreme

The first thing though was an amuse bouche sent by the chef. It was soup, served in test tubes with straws!!! One was carrot soup with a ginger foam, and the other an asparagus soup with I cannot remember what but it was good!! We also had eggplant caviar!

A fabulous evening!!!!

Fabulous Fortieth Flamenco Party!

Oh my goodness it was the best night ever. I really cannot believe how wonderful the party was. I was in love with my dress and necklace from BCBG. Love! I had my hair done make up done...

My two best girlfriends from High School flew in for the party and we just loved every second we had together. We lunched at the Viceroy before the party, then they came over to see the kids with gifts in hand! There they were all dressed for the party on the floor playing with my kids. Just thinking of that makes me cry. They were so generous with me, doing my make up, getting me dressed. They really made me feel so loved!


We drove to the party and were ready to have fun! The night began and the drinks were flowing, I was greeting guests and all of the sudden....


I see my best girlfriend from college. SURPRISE! I was crying my eyes out!!! She even had hubby with her who was also a good friend from college. I had to get a hold of myself so I could stop crying!!!

Later hubby did a slide/video presentation and gave a speech that was so beautiful I could not believe it. Everyone watching was riveted. He covered my entire life and career and had the perfect music, the soundtrack of my life. Brilliant.

Looking around at this party, High School friends, College friends, old friends and new...I realized why the party was so important to me. I needed to close this chapter of my life and feel like I had really accomplished something. I saw all these friends gathered, helping me celebrate, laughing and crying watching the video and I realized one of my greatest accomplishments are my friendships. I have some wonderful, giving and fabulous friends. It really made me feel great. I am ready to hit the ground running in my forties with new career goals, new family goals, and new goals for myself. Oh, and I plan on seeking out some adventure.  Thank you to hubby who threw the best party EVER, my family who have put up with me for forty years, and my wonderful friends who are there for me when it counts!!!

Fabulous Fortieth Flamenco Party COUNTDOWN!! It's Tonight!!! The Main Event!!!

Fabulous Fortieth Birthday Party!

My fortieth is around the corner!!! I had to put together a list of my top 40  (Like Casey Kasem), the songs I'd like to hear and dance to at my party. It was tough to narrow down!! Tell me what you think of my list. Did I leave anything out?

Ps I already told them I love 70's and 80's music!


1. Ladies Night Kool and The Gang
2. Get down on it
3. This is your night
4. Makin it- david naughton
5. You used to hold me so tight- Thelma houston
6. You want this- Janet Jackson
7. Beyonce- single ladies put a ring on it
8. Circus- Britney
9. womanizer- Britney
10. Instant Replay- Dan Hartman
11. Shake your body down to the ground- Jacksons
12. PYT
13. Blame it on the boogie
14. Got me working day and night
15. Wanna be startin somehthin
16. Jameriqui -virtual insanity
17. Play -Jlo
18. Get right
19 Feelin so good
20. Gold digger- Kanye
21. touch the sky
22. Signs- Justin Timberlake
23. Rock your body
24. Bad boy/ Havin a party- Luther Vandross
25. Shine
26. I'm coming out- Diana Ross
27. Freak out- chic
28. Return of the Mack- lavert
29 Cassanova- Le Vert
30. That girl is poison- BBD
31. Joy and pain- maze and Frankie bev
32. Can't tough this MC Hammer
33. Don't stop til you get enough MJackson
34. Rock with you
35. Off the wall
36. Midas touch-Midnight Star
37. Gettin Jiggy with it- Will smith
38.Nelly- hot in herre
39. The main event- Barbara Streisand
40. No more Tears


What's on your top forty list?

ears

Fortieth Birthday Party Invitations!

So which one did I choose? I have to admit I did think on it more after seeing what you all liked best, but in the end I went with my original favorite. I just love the pink and orange. It reminds me of Lilly Pulitzer, going to college in Florida, and fabulousness.

Papercourt press has been an absolute pleasure to work with! I highly recommend her!

Now on to table decorations and such, menu, music and more! I will keep you posted!!!

Fortieth Birthday Party Ideas

Trolling the Internet I am disturbed by the lack of creativity for fortieth birthday party ideas. I for one think Forty is Fabulous and should be celebrated as such!

My girlfriend Alyssa threw a Seventies themed birthday party for her husband which was pretty fun. Everyone was dressed as their favorite seventies icon, the year of her hubby's birth. I was pregnant but the Mr. and I made a rockin' Captain and Tenille. I talked to Schneider from One Day At A Time most of the night, but I digress.

Last week I booked the place for my fortieth and instantly I had a theme. It's a Spanish tapas restaurant, so I am having a:

Fabulous Forty Flamenco Party!

You know it's gonna be good. Tapas, wine and dancing! Cannot wait.

Other ideas I was toying with?

Fortieth Party Ideas

Great Gatsby Fortieth
- Flapper dresses, deco decor, Dorothy Parker and bathtub gin!

White Hot Fortieth- Guests are dressed all in white, the party is modern and the disco ball would keep them moving.

Sex and the city fortieth- pink drinks, pink everything and fabulous cran-tinis, etc!

Lilly 40th- Imagine the preppyiest, palm beachyest, party ever. Oh and wearing Lilly OF COURSE.

Okay so I need your help. I am doing a little vote. You see, Papercourt Press is doing my invites. She did three fabulous samples.

A. Red Flamenco



B. Orange Flamenco



C. Dot Flamenco


Vote in the pole to the right and comment and let me know!