This past weekend we celebrated my husband’s 40th birthday!!! Forty is one of those milestones that has to be celebrated, and giving Mike a fun party with friends was a great way to do it.

I’m completely on board with e-vites. They are my favorite way to send invitations. You get to track them, guests can easily RSVP, and you can quickly send updates and party reminders. I found mine at Paperless Post.

When creating the theme, I kept it all about him. A backyard BBQ party was his request so I went with it and incorporated things he loves. His drinks of choice are bourbons and whiskeys so the centerpieces are combinations of old liquor bottles filled with simple greens. I didn’t think about it at the time, but they ended up being the best conversation starters as they guys all had thoughts on which ones they preferred or wanted to try.

Since we were having BBQ, I wanted to stay with the traditional checked tablecloth, but gave it an updated feel with black and white. We rented folding chairs so we could have plenty of seating.

Speaking of BBQ, I forgot to get a photo of it, but instead of spending our time at the grill, we ordered in BBQ from a local restaurant. If you’re in the Houston area, we ordered from Rudy’s. Our order included everything. Drinks, cups, plates, cutlery and napkins. Such a time saver! All we had to have ready the day of was the alcohol. Serving it up in a big tub of ice is the easiest way to go.

For the birthday cake, Mike’s favorite is German Chocolate Cake. I used a boxed german chocolate mix for the cake and then used this recipe from Simply Delicious for the Dulce de Leche frosting. You guys. It was amazing!!! A fancy take on german chocolate cake.

We had kids at the party so we needed entertainment. I made some corn hole boards (I’ve always wanted a set), and the kids loved them. Even if they did spend more time tossing bean bags at each other than in the hole, ha!

Now, the next source of entertainment kind of makes my eyes bleed a little. But, there is nothing kids love more than a bounce house. It was the easiest entertainment ever. Period.

The party went into the evening, and I snapped a photo at the very end so you could see how pretty the strings lights looked. Such an easy thing to add to an outdoor party to make it feel special.

Happy Birthday to you, Mike!!! You’re a far better friend, husband, and father than I could have ever asked for. I am truly blessed to have you in my life. All of my happiness is owed to you. I love you like crazy.

SOURCES: e-vites . checked table cloth . folding chairs (local rental) . string lights . large galvanized tub . dulce de leche topping recipe . number cake topper . corn hole board (DIY)

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Cassie Bustamante

loved the photos i saw on fb- what a beautiful party you created for him! so awesome!
1. CrazyWonderful
  
  Thank you so much, Cassie! Just a few more years until I'm there with him 😬
Michael Westerman

Thanks babe – it was a total blast. Love you!
1. CrazyWonderful
  
  Ditto, babe!
Lisa @ Shine Your Light

I want to be friends with you guys in real life. Enough of this online friendship thing. The tablescaping, cornhole, and taste in beverages clearly indicate that we need to hang out! Looks like an amazing party!! Happy bday to your better half!
1. CrazyWonderful
  
  Right back at ya, Lisa!!!

Meet Shelley

Hi, I’m Shelley! My belief is that with a little creativity and elbow grease, you can make your home look like a million bucks without spending it.

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