I have been looking forward to turning the big 4-0 for a while now. Anticipation for the celebration of this milestone stirred in my mind for the better part of a year leading up to October, my birthday month.

At first, I considered a festive dinner combined with a week-long trip to Universal Studios with my husband. Then I thought about hosting a huge party at an industrial event space, complete with retro-themed activities, delicious food, and early 2000s beats playing in the background. However, as my birthday approached, unexpected home projects arose that simply could not wait. I found myself back at square one, trying to figure out how to celebrate with a smaller budget—womp!

I didn’t let that stop me. I began to reflect on what truly brings me joy—spending time with family and friends, playing fun games, laughing, studying my Bible, sipping a warm cup of tea, and discovering new foods to try. I realized that the things I enjoy most often can’t be bought anyway.

With a renewed mindset, ideas started flowing about how to celebrate my 40th birthday. The Good Lord blessed me with one of the most memorable birthdays ever! Would you like to read about it? Let’s go!

I chose to do several things:

1. Have a small birthday dinner at a cozy French restaurant in Fort Worth called Paris 7th.

2. Organize a photoshoot with my family, followed by another session with a group of girlfriends from different stages of my life.

3. Attend a proper tea party.

The dinner at Paris 7th was even more memorable than I anticipated. My husband and I were joined by his brother and his brother’s girlfriend for an intimate celebration.

As we walked into the restaurant, we were greeted by a single open room filled with dim lighting and cozy seating. The steady buzz of small group chatter filled the air. Our hostess led us to a table for four, where our server, Joshua, would take care of us throughout the evening.

I must say, Joshua was a true gem. He guided us through the menu effortlessly. His recommendations for food and drink pairings were spot-on, and he even engaged in our lively table talk. Not once did he make us feel unwelcome or roll his eyes at our lack of French terminology. He truly made our dining experience enjoyable.

I savored a Wagyu Beef Bourguignon and a dessert whose name I still struggle to pronounce. While the food and drinks were delightful, the best part of the dinner was the company. We laughed so much that the couple at the next table joined in on our conversations. It was such a fun experience that their laughter had us in tears! On their way out, they graciously treated our table to desserts for letting them partake in our festivities. Talk about favor!

The rest of the evening felt like icing on the cake. Joshua mentioned that the atmosphere at Paris 7th can sometimes feel stuffy, but he was glad we brought a burst of energy to the space. To top it off, they served on-the-house celebratory shots (virgin for me, since I don’t drink) and invited us to come back. We finished the evening, hurried to pick up the kids, and rushed home to rest up for our photoshoot the next day.

I had initially hoped to do the photos at the Fort Worth Water Gardens. However, due to scheduling conflicts and the need to avoid harsh morning light, my photographer, Joy, suggested we move the shoot to Sundance Square, which offers plenty of shady spots and beautiful backdrops.

Interestingly, I found Joy by chance. I had intended to work with another photographer whose website included the word “joy” in the title. I accidentally clicked on Joy’s site instead, but after seeing her skill in capturing lifestyle moments, I decided to go with her.

The next morning, my family and I got an early start to make it to the shoot on time. For our outfits, the girls and I wore puffy-sleeved dresses as a nod to 80s party wear, while my husband donned the perfect floral print shirt that pulled together all our dress colors.

In typical ‘me’ fashion, I knew this photo op required a fun sneaker combo. The Little and I rocked classic Adidas Shell Toes, with my husband and Bee in Gazelles and Samba’s, respectively. It all came together as a frilly retro vibe—a perfect tribute to 1985.

Once we arrived, Joy introduced herself and quickly got us posing. She brought us to several ideal spots that captured our family’s natural dynamics. We explored downtown, slipping into hidden alleyways, posing in lush courtyards, and showcasing our typical interactions. Joy captured countless candid moments.

After the family session, she transitioned to my shoot with the girlfriends. She posed us in front of historic buildings, snapped pictures of us on stage in the main square, and, for the grand finale, captured the moment as I walked the imaginary runway while my ladies tossing white streamers for a fun backdrop!

We had a blast! It was everything I had hoped for and more. These memories will serve as a beautiful reminder of how God has blessed me through my relationships and family. I will never forget this special time.

Next was a mad dash back to my house, and our adventures continued with a chauffeured drive to a lovely afternoon tea at the Dallas Tea Party Co. Our driver, Mike, loaded us aboard “The Sprintertainement,” a fully equipped limo-style party bus.

I asked the ladies to introduce themselves to the group and share a little about how we knew each other. I have friends from all walks of life: those I worked with years ago in the corporate world, ladies I’ve met through my husband, family members, friends from church, and neighbors—each uniquely a blessing to me.

After the introductions, we dove into a fun game called “Draw From Memory.” The objective is for one person to pull a random card from the deck, and the participants must quickly sketch whatever the card says purely from memory! It can get pretty silly, with drawings of ghosts, broccoli, and jars of pickles among the random objects we sketched.

The fun part is that whoever is judging that round also pulls a card that tells what the unique judging criteria will be. It can be anything from “The winner is the one who gets the most laughs” to “The winner is the most inaccurately drawn.” The fact that no one has to be a great artist to win makes the game enjoyable for everyone.

We had so much fun playing that before we knew it, we had arrived at the Dallas Tea Party Co. Mike helped us out, and we strolled into the building, which featured a gorgeous double staircase right in the coffee lobby area.

Behind the staircase was a quaint room decorated with antique-like charm and the sweetest tea setup I’ve ever seen! Each table had a three-tiered tray featuring finger sandwiches, scones, cupcakes, and macarons.

I especially loved the mismatched cups, saucers, and teapots with Victorian-style floral prints. It’s little details like these that make tea such a wonderful downtime experience.

We sipped tea, ate sandwiches, and enjoyed lively conversation. Our hosts, Susan and Stephanie, truly gave us the royal treatment. They even took pictures of us posing on the staircase since we were all dressed up.

Afterwards, we walked to the town center gazebo for more photo opportunities. A photographer coming from a local shoot offered to snap a couple of pics of our group just as a courtesy! What a blessing!

Mike returned to load us back onto the limo to drive us back to Fort Worth. We spent the ride laughing, sharing stories, and creating new memories to cherish in the future.

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of my 40th birthday celebrations. It was a true reflection of how I envision myself in the years to come—surrounded by those who bring joy, authenticity, and care into my life. 

Simple joys, like feeling the warm buzz of a teacup clasped between my hands, gathering sweet moments with friends that make me smile, or experiencing gratitude while dancing in an alleyway with my favorite guy and gals, are all part of my next chapter. Should the Good Lord allow me to see more years, I plan to live them for His glory!

Cheers, and thanks for reading!

Photographer: Shots Of Joy Photography

Limo Service: Heaven On Wheels

Tea Party: Dallas Tea Party Co

Dress: AJE Myriad Cutout purchased at Clothes Mentor