To be totally honest, I didn’t have high hopes for my 40th birthday celebration amid a global pandemic, but it was everything I wanted and more!
It’s funny because this time last year, I had HUGE plans for my 40th. We talked about chartering a yacht and spending a long weekend on Block Island with friends. I know, right? Of course, this was super extravagant, financially and logistically, so, eventually, my 40th was “downgraded” to a fancy dinner party with my closest friends at our home, cooked by a professional Boston chef. Mal handled the reservation and menu, so everything was set to go for June 19th, and I seriously couldn’t wait!
Once quarantine progressed into mid-May in Massachusetts, it didn’t seem right to have a group of friends in close proximity at our house for my 40th dinner party, so we ended up canceling. I was bummed, but looking at what was happening around us in the world, having a big celebration seem soooo unnecessarily. Turning 40 started to seem like just another birthday, and I was totally fine with that.
Well, Mal (and Quinn and Murphy) came through BIG TIME for making the day extra special for me. Even from the moment I woke up, I knew it was going to be a great day.
Before I tell you all about it, I wanted to share some old photos that my Grammie sent me for my 40th.
First dance recital
My aunt first owned this white blanket (“Harry). She gave it to me as a baby and now it’s Quinn’s.
Kindergarten photo. My mom was so annoyed the photographer combed my hair like this – haha!
Beach baby!
Swinging at the park with Auntie Mum!
High school photo – this was Mal’s favorite! Oh, those bangs! 🙂
After breakfast at home, we got ourselves reach for a morning at Duxbury Beach, which, of course, included a stop at Coffee Shack for iced coffee.
I wish I had taken more photos at the beach, but I just wanted to enjoy the time with my family.
We left the beach a little after lunchtime and headed home to shower up for an early dinner at Scarlet Oak. I totally spaced on taking photos, but I broke my 41-day no alcohol streak with TWO glasses of wine, oysters, and a delicious chicken and avocado sandwich.
Back at home, it was time for cake and presents!
Mal got me a gluten-free cake from Montillo’s, and it was amazing! The cream cheese frosting was something else!! 🙂
While we were eating birthday cake, Mal played a special video he compiled to celebrate my 40th. He had contacted my family and friends to make short ‘birthday wish’ videos to contribute. Basically, little snippets of them wishing me a happy birthday – some were sweet and sentimental while others were straight-up hilarious! Mal combined the videos with photos from my mom as well as his personal photos and videos and put it all to music. Mal’s personal videos really surprised me because a lot of them were of Quinn and me, and I didn’t realize he had recorded these moments. The whole video ended up being nearly 15 minutes long and, my gosh, it was a tearjerker. Just seeing how many family and friends contributed made my so incredibly heart happy. Mal did SUCH a great job with it, and it was by far the most amazing surprise for my 40th.
And THEN… there were presents! My boys definitely spoiled me. How amazing is this custom Murphy portrait from West & Willow!?! He’s a handsome devil, isn’t he?
Quinn thought to buy me a set of glass straws because he knows how much I love them. He’s such a thoughtful kid… and aren’t the colors so pretty?
And, finally, Mal bought me a Gravity Blanket (weighted blanket), which I initially laughed about. I actually don’t have much anxiety or trouble sleeping anymore (I’ve worked very hard at my “Jedi mind tricks“), but I am absolutely loving the blanket. I’ve only used it for 4 nights now, but I’m sleeping even better and my HRV is improving, which could be a total coincidence, but I’ll take it!
All in all, it was a birthday that I’ll never forget. Here’s to the next decade! 🙂
