I got a text from my friend Leslie yesterday that said, “I’m thinking you must be REALLY sick since it’s already June 13th and I haven’t heard a single thing about your birthday.” Not to worry, dear Leslie. While I haven’t written about it, my family receives thrice-weekly reminder emails with my updated birthday wishlist from Pinterest.
And yes. I want, nay, expect presents from my family. I put thought into the presents I give my family members. I keep notes on each of them, jotting down when they mention something in passing that they might like. If I had a million dollars I’d spend half of it on other people because I love giving presents and making people happy. The thought DOES count. And you know, when I am laying in bed, sore from puking my guts out for almost a week, I like being able to think, “in less than two weeks, you get pretty things!” I’m shallow, whatever.
my expression says, “Where are my presents?!
I’m not sure what I’m going to do to celebrate the big three two. I love throwing parties, and we haven’t had one in a long time – just Annie’s birthday in January. Birthday parties combine my two loves – I get to be surrounded by the people I love, and I get to make them happy with food and drink. Mike (Mr. Practical) reigns in my party tendencies, but for my birthday he really can’t say no.
Right now all my friends are thinking “oh nooooo not another theme party!” Man. You make your friends dress in yellow for your Golden Birthday and force them to play Dance Dance Revolution all night and they never let you forget it.
Adults aren’t too old for bounce houses, right?
Last year I declared it the year of Thirty Fun. I went to places I’d never been, took time to just be with girl friends, and forced myself to do things outside my comfort zone. I enjoyed amazing new experiences, but now Thirty Fun is drawing to an end. I need to figure out a new “mantra” for thirty two – something that will require me to emerge from my home. It’s so easy for me to stay inside, curl up, and let the world spin around me. I need to not be such a hermit this year.
I need a new theme. Thirty POO, as my nephew suggested, doesn’t quite have the right ring to it.
Carrie P. says:
30-NEW – try/do something you’ve never tried
30-WOOOO! – big, crazy birthday bash?
30-ZOO?
heather says:
I have to second Thirty-woooo!
thatgirlblogs says:
i’ve been 32, and I’ve been 42 — 32 is better. Happy preBirthday.
Jenny says:
Thirty flu equals thirty boo?
RzDrms says:
Most definitely: Thirty-YOU!
Karen says:
i30 2.0? Oh, I attempted to go way too geeky there…
30-Goo sounds like fun but would probably involve stains that would never come out of the carpet.
30-Do doesn’t sound nearly as much fun as 30-Don’t.
You’re probably not old enough to be suffering from 30-Who?
30-Woo sounds like the most likely contender and 30-You has a certain appeal. Or you could just be like me an celebrate the 11th Anniversary of your 21st Birthday. Party likes it’s 2000!
Liz says:
My very first thought was thirty-WHOOO! But I really like thirty-YOU as well.
Randi says:
I’m like you Heather – I freak out even over giving my kids teachers Christmas and end-of-the-year gifts. I want to give people things that I KNOW they’ll love. That’s why every year I get depressed when my birthday comes because I know people don’t think the same thing about me. My own mother just gives me money. Now money is nice, but you’re right – it’s the thought that definitely counts. So yeah, for me, birthdays suck. I wish I could enjoy them as you do yours!!
Kim Q says:
Well, if you are at all like me, you might like:
Thirty-SHOE! :o)
Mike probably not so much.
Barefeet In The Kitchen says:
bwahahahahaha, “in less than two weeks, you get pretty things!”
Yep, that would cheer me up too, flu or not. Feel better, girl. You have some partying to do!
Lisa says:
I just had a very uneventful birthday last week thanks to just arriving home from Australia and the husband still being in Australia. I was thinking about you on my birthday thinking “Heather would never let this happen to her :)”
I say make this the year about you, doing things you love, doing new things you’ve always wanted to do, you can call it thirty-YOU!!
Happy early birthday. Hope you feel better soon so you can get on with planning your birthday bash.
Alane says:
OMG. I just threw a Golden Birthday party for myself this past weekend! And, when I sent out an evite asking my friends to wear their gaudiest of gold and that we’d have a keg of golden elixir? Well, they thought I was crazy. In fact, they made me feel like I’d made up this whole “golden birthday” idea all on my own. But, no! It’s a REAL celebration! Thank goodness you celebrated your golden in the same fashion… Phew!
Mel says:
32 is twice as much fun as 16 !!!!
Deborah says:
Thirty-zoo? With an animal theme, perhaps?
Thirty-moo? Everyone can dress up as cows, because that’s SO sexayyyyyy.
I’m also turning 32 this year, in October. Yeesh.
Loren says:
Thirty-NEW!
Skye says:
My golden birthday happened when I was six, and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t more special than my other childhood birthdays. I kinda wish I had been old enough to appreciate my golden birthday and throw a big party! Good for you!
I like 30-new, where you try as many new experiences as possible (you could go on weekend trips, try to see new places in your hometown that you never go to, do things you’ve always wanted to try like skydiving or getting a crazy new haircut).
Tricia says:
I was just thinking when I saw the date today: “Hey, my birthday is exactly four months from today. Better start the countdown!” hahaha You are a girl after my own heart Heather dear.
Adults are NEVER too old for bounce houses. But I do have some advice: Don’t drink too much before you go in there. I think you’ve done enough throwing up this month.
Lamb says:
I’m a major homebody. If I have a 4 day weekend, I’ll spend the entire 4 days at home in my pajamas unless Sexy Nerd drags me somewhere (almost always Lowes, Home Depot, or both – he has some weirdo tenancies too!)
One thing I’ve found gets me to try new places is to invest in an Entertainment Book. I can’t stand to let the coupons go to waste! Instead, I pair coupons together (example: a museum, restaurant, and coffee shop coupon) and plan for us to make a day of it. Sexy Nerd can’t say no after I’ve paid for those coupons and he knows it!
Jen says:
I like 30-DO! Like…go out and do it! Um…ok not “it” but you know what I mean…
The Woman Formerly Known as Beautiful says:
My birthdays also in two weeks. 46: No more turning tricks. Hmmm. It has a ring to it.
Issa says:
Thirty new…go to places that you’ve always loved, but take Annie. It’s all new for her. See things this year through her eyes.
Issa says:
Also? Beware of the bounce house. I don’t think it’s made for adults. Didn’t Megan (UD) break herself in one of those last year?
Yvonne says:
Thirty-Do: Do lots of things throughout the year that are new, fun and exciting –
Kristin (MamaKK922) says:
I am all about the Thirty Wooo Happy early birthday I hope you get everything you want and that includes feeling better.
Chris says:
Maybe the new house will be your present. 30-New! Let’s hope.
Funnelcloud Rachel says:
Great suggestions here, though Thirty POO had me cracking up!
leslie says:
30-do
because you want to do something outside of the house…
Adrienne says:
How about 30-Chew you try out different foods all year.
or 30-Whew The year of relaxing.
Either way, Happy Birthday
Cindy says:
How about thirty-DO! Every month you get out and DO something new/for someone else/physical, etc.???
Amy says:
You could have a 30-coup where you and your friends overthrow the government. Probably not fun if you like our current government. Or you could have a 30-coop where you all feed chickens.
Fiorella says:
i like 30-NEW! you are getting a new house and will be having tons of new experiences… so 32 should be 30-new
Erin says:
I think it should be Thirty Woo Hoooooo!
Carrie P. says:
I have more! How about 30-CREW, 30-CLUE, 30-BREW, 30-TRUE, 30-DREW, 30-HUE(s), or, my personal favorite, 30-GROOOO-VE? I’ve got a million of ’em!
melanie says:
I seriously had a bounce house on my 30th birthday. It was a blast.
Rebecca says:
You can call it thirty two and try to get pregnant with twins?
Jennifer Dawn says:
Adults are NOT too old for bounce houses. We’ve gotten one for our past three parties and they’ve been a huge hit, and surprisingly, injury-free. We just had my hubby’s 30th birthday party last weekend and the bounce house was hoppin’ (pun intended). I say go for it!
Heidi Blix says:
Soooo many good options on the 32 variations….and you’re definitely not too old for a bouncy house.
I share your sentiments about birthdays, Heather. All of your posts are touching, but this one really touched me.
I’m not trying to be Debbie Downer here, but my Mom died three years ago from brain cancer at the age of 57. I turned 40 the next month. Birthdays (mine, hers, others’) have been really difficult since then because she was the one who always got me things that I really wanted, but never expected. The one who kept notes when we’d talk about some obscure thing and then it would just show up. The one who would drive all over or spend too much time online looking for the “just right” thing. I do those things for other people (learned by example), but there isn’t anyone who reciprocates anymore and its tough. My younger son was born four months before my Mom died. It saddens me that he’ll never know birthdays with his grandma like his older brother, his dad, his cousins, and I did. I love my husband, but he’s pretty clueless about this kind of stuff. I try to do special things for myself more than I used to, but its not the same.
Cherish the moments, everyone~
Aimee says:
thirty-MOO celebrate year 32 with FOOD!!!! Make it a point to try new things, make new foods, and experience different cultures through what the best of life has to offer-EATING
or thirty-YOU Focus on what Heather needs this year. What ways can you dig deep and make you a better you?
KK says:
How about 30-FUN Part II. You can continue all the way up with III, IV, V. Until you reach the Forever-40 celebration!
Ray says:
That photo of you in that party hat is insanely adorable! Good luck on party ideas. What about a seventies theme? ;o) Though you’ve probably done that already.