Last Sunday was my birthday. 40 years old! With the craziness of my life in that moment, it just wasn’t on my mind to write about it here. I’m not a big one for birthdays, perhaps because I spent my childhood not celebrating them (religious reasons) and perhaps because I feel uncomfortable with the attention. It’s just another day to me. But a milestone birthday is not to be ignored by family and friends, and I was celebrated.
Part of “sorting the piles” this weekend included looking at all of the birthday cards I received. Sometimes I save them, sometimes I throw them away – but this was my 40th, I felt the need to do something with the cards. I decided to create a fun collage with the images from them, and cut out the words that spoke to me, which turned into the poem. In the back I tucked the personal notes people had written. This is why I needed to get organized, so I could be creative again! Creating a fun marker for this milestone, with the bits and pieces of my family and friends mixed in, was a joy.
My friends in Corvallis planned a suprise party while I was there, which was a bit foiled by the fact that I disappeared from the face of the earth in the time they were trying to get me to the location of the party. In reality I only turned off my phone for a couple of hours for a massage appointment (wouldn’t you turn off your phone?) but it was quite funny the voice messages, emails and Facebook posts that happened in that time. You can see below that I made it, although late, to my own surprise party. It was a great evening of laughter and friends, margaritas and Mexican food, along with the perfect cake made by my friend Becky!
I am truly happy to be 40 years old. I feel like there is so much ahead of me, and I’m no longer weighted down by trying to be something I’m not. I’m just happy to be… me.
That's a fantastic cake!! I was 40 last December so am facing my 41st in less than a couple of months!!
A very happy birthday xx
Happy Belated Birthday! Thing get better and better with age!
Happy Birthday Kat. I love what you did with your cards – it will be a wonderful memory as the years go by.
Happy, happy birthday
Great idea of what to do with the cards–very creative! Happy 40th! It just keeps getting better! 🙂
Great cake! I bet you smiled the whole time! You deserve a special day, just for you.
xo
Tam
Happy Birthday! (What a fabulous thing you did with your cards – great idea!)
That cake is so much fun!!!
xo
Kristin
Happy (belated) Birthday Kat! Love the card you made and the cake! wow! xm
Happy birthday! 🙂 Well, my 40th birthday is coming soon too and I've not decided yet if I care much about turning 40 or not, I'll let you know when it happens, but I've definitely decided there'll be a lot of cake to celebrate this event 😀
Haaaappy biiiirthday, dear Kat! It's great to know you, see you happy and be inspired by you. I like reading your posts and your thoughts.
The BD cake is superb!
I'm not into celebrating either, but am always thankful when friends do remember and send me good wishes…
PS: I hope we'll meet again 🙂
Ciao!
Kat, I love how creative you got with those birthday cards! This is wonderful!!! And that cake is gorgeous!
And let me tell you – 50 is even better!!!
And we are happy for you to just be you too! After all…no one is as qualified to do the things you have been placed on this earth to do! Happy happy birthday ma petite fleur!
Ahhh… still so young! (seems like yesterday!) LOVE what you did with your cards – what a great idea. Mine are still set out for display in the family room, but I know any day now my husband will start complaining and expect them to disappear. It's a great way to save a little part of each one! Anyway, sounds like a happy, happy time – congratulations!!
Oh Kat, I wish I'd known when I saw you that it was almost your birthday! I owe you one. What you did with the cards is truly sensational! Man, Mexican food and margaritas sound so good right now…
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Kat!! What an perfect cake for you!! Did you eat your camera? (LOL)
Wonderful collage!
Best wishes for a fabulous year and many many more!
Happy belated birthday–it's great that you are feeling good about turning 40, and happy with yourself!
Hope you had a fabulous bday and that is a cool cake!!!
Welcome to the 40s! It is a wonderful decade so far. (I am three years into it so if it all goes to Hades at some pt I will let you know. ; ))
Great cake! You must have very good friends indeed. enjoy!
oh, I love how you made a collage out of your birthday cards—what a great idea! I always wonder what to do with the cards, and I feel bad throwing them away. Great cake! Congrats on your birthday, and I love your wonderful perspective on turning 40—it's really refreshing, and it's how I am hoping to continue looking at things as I get older.