GOODBYE FORTY!

Last week, I said goodbye to my fortieth year.  I remember when my parents turned forty and it seemed like they were senior citizens.  My father surprised my mother with a jukebox that she filled with all of her favorite 45 records (remember those?)  In reward for good behavior growing up, my mother would let my brother and myself go to the record store every Friday after school and pick out songs for the jukebox.  It was the highlight of our week.  Our house was always full of dancing and music growing up.  When I turned forty, I knew exactly how I wanted to celebrate....design my own disco and have a rowdy dance party....

The Invitation

Every great party should start with a clever invitation to set the tone.  Elizabeth Peters of Arzberger Stationers helped me create the perfect invitation.  She is incredibly creative and over delivers on every project.  She found a reflective metallic ink that tied in with the disco theme beautifully. We used a silver envelope with pink ink and a custom pink disco ball stamp to complete the package.

The Inspiration

My dear friend and florist extraordinaire Jay Lughibihl of In Bloom graciously allowed me to convert his warehouse space into the disco of my dreams. He shares space with the talented event consultant Dina Berg Blazek who kindly helped me track down some hard to find hot pink tinsel draping and disco balls of all sizes. Unfortunately, we were all having so much fun we forgot to take a picture of the 15 disco balls hanging overhead washed in hot pink spot lights. The image below gives a glimpse of the space.

The Dance Floor, DJ  and Dancers

In addition to the decor, I wanted to make sure we had the proper festive and lively atmosphere for the party.  Our DJ was outstanding and the dancers flanking the DJ booth inspired even the wallflowers to GET YOUR GROOVE ON-our motto for the night...

The Motto

Hot pink, silver and crystal accents

Tables were draped with hot pink linens and accents included silver ballroom chairs and hundreds of mirrored votives throughout the space. Thank goodness we did not burn the place down!

Signature Cocktails by Porcupine Provisions

Leslie and Bruce Schlernitzauer of Porcupine Provisions are hands down the best catering team around.  I adore working with them and they make every single event personal and unique.  My only complaint was that they insisted on working the event instead of being guests to make sure everything ran smoothly.  They came up with a much needed menu of gourmet late night fare.  I also wanted a pink cocktail to tie in with the decor and they came up with the libation seen in the picture above.

SWEET RUBY RED

 2 1/2 oz. Absolut Citron Vodka

2 1/2 oz. Red Ruby Pink Grapefruit Juice

 2 1/2 oz. Grenadine

Sugar to rim the glass

My Disco Diva Daughter

The most outstanding part of the evening were the guests.  I have the most wonderful friends in the world. It was fabulous celebrating with so many old and new friends. Most of us were either born or grew up during the 1970s . The effort that everyone put into their costumes was outstanding.  The get ups, dance moves and 70s vibe that everyone brought to the party were the best gift I could have ever received.  It certainly made turning forty a lot less painful.

Best Dressed Couple

Most Creative (and Gutsy-est) Costumes

Most Original Entrance

A Bevy of Groovy Beauties

Best Footwear

Jive Talkin'

My Hipster Hubby
Isn't 40 the new 30?

And this post would not be complete without sharing the play list from the evening.  I spent hours deliberating which songs would make the cut.  All songs can be downloaded from I-Tunes.  Perfect for your next late night dance party!!

THE PLAY LIST

American Boy                            Estelle

Baby                                          Justin Bieber & Ludacris

Baby Boy                                    Beyoncé Feat. Sean Paul

Bad Girls                                   Donna Summer

Blame It On the Boogie              The Jacksons

The Bomb!                                 The Bucketheads

Boogie Oogie Oogie                    A Taste Of Honey

Born This Way                            Lady GaGa

Burning Up                                Madonna

Bust a Move                              Young MC

Buzzin (Remix)                           Mann & 50 Cent

C'mon N' Ride It (The Train)       Quad City DJ's

California Gurls                          Katy Perry

Can You Feel It                           Michael Jackson

Canned Heat                              Jamiroquai

Car Wash (Single Version)           Rose Royce

Check It Out                              will.i.am & Nicki Minaj

Crazy In Love                             Beyoncé Feat. Jay-Z

A Deeper Love                           Aretha Franklin

Deja Vu (Featuring Jay-Z)           Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z

Disturbia                                   Rihanna

Do I Do                                     Stevie Wonder

Don't Let Go                              Isaac Hayes

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough   Michael Jackson

Back In Love Again                    L.T.D.

Everybody Dance                       Chic

Express Yourself                        Madonna

F**k You                                    Cee Lo Green

Fashion Beats                           The Black Eyed Peas

Fastlove, Pt. 1                           George Michael

Feel Good Inc.                           Gorillaz

Finally                                       Ce Ce Peniston

Fire Burning                               Sean Kingston

Forever                                     Chris Brown

Freedom                                   George Michael

Gettin' Jiggy Wit It                     Will Smith

Girls on Film                              Duran Duran

Glamorous                                Fergie

Good Vibrations                        Danceteria

Got To Be Real                          Cheryl Lynn

Gotta Get Thru This                  Daniel Bedingfield

Heaven Knows                           Donna Summer & Brooklyn Dreams

Hold It Against Me                      Britney Spears

Hot In Herre                              Nelly

Hotel Room Service                   Pitbull

I'm Coming Out                         Diana Ross

I'm Gonna Get                           Bizarre Inc

I Know You Want Me                  Pitbull

I Like It (feat. Pitbull)                 Enrique Iglesias

I Wanna Be Your Lover               Prince

In da Club                                  50 Cent

Instant Replay                           Dan Hartman

It's Raining Men                         The Weather Girls

It Takes Two                              Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock

Jungle Love                               Time

Knock on Wood                         Amli Stewart

Lady (You Bring Me Up)              Commodores

Last Dance (12" Version)             Donna Summer

Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)         Katy Perry

Let's Get Loud                           Jennifer Lopez

Like a G6 (feat. Cataracs & Dev) Far East Movement

The Love You Save                    Jackson 5

LoveStoned                               Justin Timberlake

Low (feat. T-Pain)                     Flo Rida

Me Against the Music                 Glee Cast

Missing (Todd Terry Remix)        Everything But The Girl

Move Ya Body (Radio Edit)          Nina Sky

Nasty Girl (Full Mix)                    Inaya Day

Now That We Found Love           Heavy D & The Boyz

On the Floor (feat. Pitbull)         Jennifer Lopez

Only Girl (In the World)              Rihanna

P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)        Michael Jackson

Please Don't Go                         Double You

Poison                                       Bell Biv DeVoe

Pon de Replay                           Rihanna & Elephant Man

Rapper's Delight                        The Sugarhill Gang

Rio                                           Duran Duran

Rock Your Body                         Justin Timberlake Feat. Pharrell Williams

Señorita                                    Justin Timberlake Feat. Pharrell Williams

Shake Your Body                        Michael Jackson

Shame                                       Evelyn "Champagne" King

She Loves Me Back                    Luther Vandross

Show Me Love                           Robin S.

Sing A Song                               Earth Wind & Fire

Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)   Beyoncé

Somebody to Love (Remix)         Justin Bieber

Strike It Up                                Black Box

Take Your Time (Do It Right)      The S.O.S. Band

Teenage Dream                         Katy Perry

The Time (Dirty Bit)                  The Black Eyed Peas

Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)             Enrique Iglesias

The Way You Move                    OutKast & Sleepy Brown

Where Is the Love?                    Black Eyed Peas & Justin Timberlake

Who Dat Girl (feat. Akon)           Flo Rida

Yeah!                                       Usher featuring Lil' Jon & Ludacris

You Dropped the Bomb On Me    The Gap Band

You Rock My World                    Michael Jackson

You Should Be Dancing               Bee Gees

100% Pure Love                         Crystal