The question is, why NOT throw yourself a party?

Where there is a will, there is a way and gosh darn it I really wanted to have a birthday party this year.

The wild idea came to me while I was having tea with my daughters back in December and they said “well, you plan such good parties for other people, why NOT plan one just for you?” and we booked the whimsical room table at Linde Lane on the spot.

I realized that if I should have it at a restaurant, oh let’s say a FABULOUS local tea room, the decorating, food, service, and atmosphere in general would all be taken care of. No cleaning up the house before or after a party. I also realized that oh hey, I could put my personal touches on it for fun, invite some lovely ladies, and really just have a lovely afternoon.

I am a person that believes in making your own magic. I can NOT tell you how often I hear the someone whining because nobody is doing it for them. Nobody is surprising, delighting, taking their hints, or making it their life’s work to make hers more fantastic.

Do you see a problem here? Because I sure as heck do. The “poor me” attitude is expecting someone else to come along and make your life magic. Let’s have a bit of perspective, and remember that everyone has their own battles, their own chores, and while it *is* fun to bring magic into the lives of others the ability to surprise and delight others isn’t always there, nor is it always on a big scale. Not only that, but I’m a very firm believer that a lot of the times your life can be made a lot better (or worse) simply from how you look at things and how you yourself act.

Now please, don’t get me wrong. I am totally blessed to have AMAZING people in my life who add to my happiness, who make my life better, richer, more wonderful just for being in it. I am thankful every day for my blessings.

But honestly? The person best able, the person most likely to throw me a birthday party right now, this year? ME. So I ask again, why not make myself a bit of magic?

I can honestly tell you this is one of the best choices I’ve made for myself in 2013. I got exactly what I wanted. I set it all up myself including requests to the tea room, reserving the table I most wanted, even getting only the prettiest of teacups on the table. I spoke with our server before hand and she did an EXCELLENT job.

I invited some friends and family I thought would have fun with the whole experience, including (of course!) the ladies who helped inspire me to do this my two daughters. I also spent a few hours making place cards, boxed goodies, and because I *had* to, mason jar goodies topped with hat wearing birds. I didn’t spend a TON of time on customizing – because that was the whole point of having it at a fancy tea room! I didn’t have to do much.

I think everyone had just as much fun as I did attending, and I can tell you now it won’t be the last birthday party I throw for myself! I wanted to share a few photos and my story here today because I think it is important to craft a happy life. I also think, you really need to remember that a lot in this life is your choice and often you can make things more magical, or just plain by your choices. I could have moped around because my husband is still studying for that promotional exam and won’t be around much, I could pout that nobody surprised me with a meal out or that I have to do everything myself… or I could say “hey – I have a fun idea…” and make my own brand of birthday magic.

One thing – be sure to invite and include others to join in because the happiness is contagious, and the effects are nothing but glowing and good.

Whether just a party of two, ten, or fifty – I hope I’ve inspired you to do something fun for yourself, just because. It doesn’t have to be huge, it just has to delight you. Don’t put it off until later or some other year either. Time is limited, make it count and do something cool. Set it in motion! For me, I had five months to make sure I’d saved up my party fund $, clear a date, and make it happen. Small steps but it made this come together very easily.

Oh yes, and if you’re in Northern California we are talking about doing a regular meet-up at the amazing Linde Lane Tea Room (Where my party was) among other places.  If you want to be in the loop about Northern California craft-happenings (and just because we can ladies outings) shoot me an email (mflaum (at) Comcast (dot) net) and I keep you posted. One of the things we chatted about at my birthday tea was that we so need to make some more gatherings of creative people just because… and if you’re not local to me HEY! get out there and join in or start up some creative fun in your neck of the woods. I’d *love* to hear about it too!