Happy birthday to you!

Although I love coordinating weddings, benefits, and other major events, sometimes smaller parties are the most fun. Luckily for me, springtime seems to also be birthdaytime in these parts, and I've had several clients who wanted to celebrate in hilarious style.

Amber wanted to throw a surprise 40th birthday party for her fiancé, Stefan, and her best friend Kari (who is not quite 40). Amber figured there was no better way to ring in Stefan's new decade than by bringing out his inner kid, so she brought me in to create a carnival-style ruckus in her sunny backyard. We had old school games (what is that one called where you throw beanbags at stuffed cats and knock them down?), awesome new electronic games like Rock Band, county fair food like mini corn dogs and caramel apples ... and a bouncy castle. You heard me. I've never seen so many doctors, lawyers, accountants, and mothers jump till they quite literally dropped.

Mica (Kari's boyfriend), Kari, Stefan, Amber

After the bouncy castle extravaganza, it was time to get physical à la Olivia Newton-John for Susan's 40-something birthday. Everyone came dressed in their '80s best, ready to play Twister and sing along to Belinda Carlisle. We set up a projector and played some favorites like "Dirty Dancing," "Bill and Ted's 

Excellent Adventure," and that Olivia Newton-John classic, "Xanadu," on Susan's 20' walls. Susan's guests brought some seriously amazing dance moves and some even more amazing costumes, reminding me how very very happy I am that there are so few pictures of me from that fashion-disaster decade. 

So, I guess the lesson here is that you're never too old to have a fun, fantastic, bouncy, or totally tubular birthday. Happy birthday, Stefan, Kari, and Susan!

Susan (center) with her sister Janet and brother Jeff