Slice of Life Sunday - My Big 4-0

My big 4-0 was 2 years ago but today Slice of Life asked:
Slice of Life choices for the week of November 30 are:
1. Winter Wonderland
2. The Big 4 - 0
3. Writer’s Choice

I decided to go with #2. This is what I wrote about my birthday in 2006.
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I am planning my 40th Birthday party. While it hasn't consumed my every thought until this week, I have gone into Birthday mode in the past four days. The theme...Luau...the peeps...My Girlfriends.

I am pyched! In the past week I have completed the menu:

Huli, Huli Chicken, Sweet and Sour Meatballs, Coconut Shrimp, Pineapple, Sweet Potato and Macadamian Nut Crumb top, Orange Lime Sauce for over the rice, Haupia (some Hawaiian candy type thing). Fruit Salad in a Pineapple, Green Salad, Coconut Cream Pie, and numerous type cookies and sweets, and enough alcohol to knock some chicks on their ass.

The drinks are:
Pina Colada, Maria's Pinapple Punch, Maria's Happy Island Punch, Maria's Luau Punch...

I am providing grass skirts, leis, flower headbands, wrist bands, and such. I made name tags for everyone with their Hawaiian name. I think it is going to be a blast.

I have been working on a project to honor the women in my life and hope to complete it tonight or tomorrow at the latest.

I am making each of them a card with pictures of us, a paragraph why they are important to me and cute embellishments. I hope they like them.

The card goes something like this...(this is my sisters)...

Tomorrow is my birthday so today I want to celebrate the women in my life. Each and every one of you are part of the mosaic that was, is, and will become Maria. I love you all for various reasons and for the same reason. You are all different and each and every one of you is important in my life. I am so happy I am celebrating my life with all of you.

Gabrielle – I could not breathe without you. You are my sister, my mother, my friend. I adore you! Our chats about our lives sometimes bring tears, sometimes bring conflict but they constantly bring laughter. Thank God we can laugh about our lives. Your quick humor and raw attitude make me love you every day. You have been there for me when I needed a shoulder, an opinion, or a laugh. You are one of the funniest people I know and also one of the bravest. I wish we lived closer because there are days I miss you like crazy. We can talk numerous times a day and still end every call with an “I love you,” I don’t know many people who can say that. Thank you for loving me. I am so glad that you are my sister but I love that I can call you my friend.

I am officially 40 as of 7:38 pm tonight. It is strange to think that 40 years ago my mom was healthy and a first time mom. What a beautiful day weather wise.

Today was fairly quiet but after yesterday that is the way to go..

My Birthday Luau yesterday was so much fun. There was me and 8 of my closet friends eating, drinking, and talking. I started cooking Friday night, and finished in the morning while my sister decorated my deck. Guests arrived by 2:00 p.m. and the party began. Being the first to reach 4o out of my peeps makes me feel older but hell what do they say these days? Something about 40 being the new 30?

My husband took (for the first time by himself) both kids out so that I didn't have to host and mother. That alone was a gift in itself. He need not get me anything.

Here are some pics from the day.

My sis and me