Treat Yo’self: Why I Threw Myself a Birthday Party

Y’all wanna know what my absolute jam is: Planning my kiddos’ joint birthday party. I go hard and fully commit to planning every detail (on a budget, no less). As a matter of fact, I will have the venue booked by October for the February party date. Crazy, right? What’s crazier is the fact that my September birthday generally goes by without any fanfare. I’m not complaining though, it’s kinda the way I like it. I’m pretty chill and never fancied myself as someone who needs a party. But here’s the thing: No one needs a party. I had that very simple realization this summer when I decided I wanted, and dare I say deserved, a birthday party.

I made the nerve-wracking decision to book a venue for an intimate, relaxed dinner. The entire time, I wondered if people would show up. How weird is that? These are people who love me and want to spend time with me, but too often, life just gets in the way. Honestly, were it not for the delightful guilt trip of RSVPing to the party, we’d just keep rescheduling our dates month after month. Well, not this time! An official party means everyone books the best sitter and shows up with bells on! And that, my mama friends is the beauty of the grown-up birthday party. It’s honestly as much about your tribe as it is about you. So, do them a solid and…

THROW THE DANG PARTY, MAMA!

Wait, you’re really going to do it? YAY! You got this, I know you do, but here are a few thoughts:

1. 1. OMG, it’s happening!: Seriously, the first step is to just do it! Look, I get all the reasons you shouldn’t/can’t throw a party, but I’m going to make the general assumption that you wouldn’t let any of those barriers stop you if you were planning a party for your child. Give yourself that same priority, you deserve it! Don’t wait around for someone else to do it for you. Will it really bring you that much more joy to say someone surprised you? Hop on the planning, and your support system can jump in where needed. 
   2. Send an invitation: Not to be Captain Obvious here, but there’s something about an invitation that makes it official and helps people prioritize your event. If you’re like me, you may have a tendency to keep things loosey-goosey with your inner circle. Nope, not today, not for your party. Let people know it’s legit by sending an invitation. This isn’t your wedding, so an Evite or Facebook event is totally acceptable and oh-so convenient.
   3. Don’t sweat the small stuff: Ah, an oldie but goodie. Honestly, social media can create unrealistic expectations of everything from what you should/shouldn’t be doing at your age to your actual party details. You may even feel that pressure from people around you. I didn’t necessarily feel the pressure while planning, but I initially wanted to take over the TME Stories channel to show you all what I was up to. Can you blame me? I was so excited! But, I didn’t end up sharing anything anywhere! I arrived before my guests, got a few pics and didn’t touch my phone until well after the party ended. And, you know what? I had a friggin’ amazing time. Yep, I had fun even though no one saw it in real time, and the world kept right on spinning!

Birthday Outfit Details

Graphic Tee (Express): I wanted a fun look for the party, so I couldn’t pass on this cute tee! It’s really soft and runs TTS. I’m wearing size M.

Striped Skirt (Forever 21): This was such a perfectly random find. It’s flowy, which worked out perfectly because it was such a windy day. It’s sheer, so be sure to wear your fave black leggings underneath.

Barely There Sandals (ASOS): I’ve been wearing these all summer!

Watch (Movado): Classic with a two-tone metal twist. This watch was a Christmas gift from my husband years ago and I still adore it.

Gold Bangle and Initial Necklace (Etsy): I wear these pieces every day. I would’ve never thought to shop at Etsy for jewelry a few years ago, but now, it’s always on my list when I’m in the market for jewelry.

Lip gloss (Anastasia Beverly Hills): I’ve been having some sensitivity with my lips this summer, so I’ve been trying more glosses to keep my lips moisturized. This shade is grape jelly, and it’s one of my faves.

Are you ready to make it happen? I seriously want to have a birthday party every year now, and I hope you’ll consider one, too! When was your last birthday party and what lessons did you learn? Please, please PLEASE, follow and tag me on Instagram, if you have any ideas I can steal for next year! It’s never too early to start planning, right?

Xo,

Tiarra
Photos by Sweet Leaf Photography