Last Updated on June 19, 2023 by Kate Darktea
My 40th birthday is fast approaching. And although I know I want to make it memorable, I don’t know how.
NOTE: Read what I did to have a great 40th birthday or get ideas on how to have a fun birthday at home.
40th birthdays
I clearly remember my Mum’s 40th birthday. She had a big house party where the guests had to “bring a ball” as she played a lot of tennis. At the time everyone said to her “Life begins at 40”, but I don’t know if that is a thing anymore. Are your 40s significantly different to your 30s now that life expectancy has increased? Maybe I’m over thinking needing to have plans for my 40th birthday, but as I don’t normally celebrate it in a big way (too soon after the children’s birthdays and too close to Christmas) I love the idea of doing something special.
What are your ideas for making a birthday memorable? What did you do for your last big birthday and what would you love to for your next one?
Here are the ideas I’ve had:
Birthday party
- House / Garden – My first thought was to have a house party as I went to a few last year and had a great time. However, I think it will be too cold to use the garden in December so restricts what I can do
- Hall – I thought I could hire a local village hall which would give more room and the option to walk / bike home
- Restaurant – this solves the issue of having to sort out food, but I worry it will be too restrictive as its not easy to move around and mix with people
My two biggest concern with having a party are the effort in planning and clearing up afterwards. How do I get to spend good quality time with the people I’ve invited if I’m also hosting and managing?
Holiday
- Disney Land Paris – I haven’t been to Paris and think my children are at an age where they would have a really magic time, especially in December as I assume they’ll go all out with Christmas decorations
- Centre Parks – People have mentioned to me that Centre Parks is magical near Christmas and my children have not been so I’m sure we’ll all love a weekend there (I haven’t been since I was 11).
- Lapland – One of my dreams is to see the Northern Lights, and someone suggested I could combine it with a Christmas visit for the children.
- House or cottage – Several of my friends are 40 in this academic year so we could hire a house or cottage and go away and celebrate together
For the last 19 years most of my holidays have been in Dorset. So it would be nice to go somewhere different, perhaps even overseas. I’ve only been three times in the last nine years – although that means I need to sort passport out for the children and me. However, I have to admit, I feel a bit overwhelmed by the thought of working out the logistics and even what to book because it is so long since I booked one. Plus, I have no idea of how to make the most of a trip to somewhere like Disneyland or how to do it economically (especially as I won’t take the children out of school for a holiday). I have saved some money to celebrate my 40th, but suspect it is not enough for a holiday.
Self
- Spa – I’ve never been to a spa but people talk about them as being incredibly relaxing. But I wonder if I would enjoy the quiet of doing nothing
- Make up, hair or clothes session – I feel my style is changing and I’m becoming bolder and would like my hair and makeup to match it. Although I’m already experimenting with red lipstick!
- clothes I’d love someone to take me shopping as it is not my favourite activity,
- hair I’d love to know how to dry my hair so it looks sleek and bouncy
- makeup I’d love to know how to achieve the modern look – you know the porcelain skin and colourful eyes
- Retreat – I’ve recently seen people talk about going on camps or retreats e.g. Lucy on the Sisterhood Camp. I don’t know what is available but the idea of immersing myself in something different for a few days is appealing. While also being scary as it brings out the little girl wanting friends in me
- Personal Development Conference – obviously I’m a big fan of personal development and maybe hitting 40 is the time to make significant steps forward by going on a big conference such as Best Year Ever (Blueprint)
- Professional pictures – is it going to be downhill from here? If so it would be nice to have some good pictures of me especially as there are so few. I thought about having boudoir pictures before our wedding and as a 10th wedding anniversary present, if I can lose the weight I’ve put back on and build up my confidence maybe now is the time to do it!
What are your ideas for making a birthday memorable? What did you do for your last big birthday and what would you love to for your next one?
Tell your time by Amy Lynn Andrews – book review
There are so many ways to have a memorable birthday party, and you list quite a few of them here! Getting out of your comfort zone a bit and hiring a venue for a party, traveling somewhere new, or just taking a day for yourself are all great options! It all depends what you prefer! Thanks for sharing!
I wanted a holiday, but due to moving house I ended up crabbing in Hamble and then getting a curry. For my 41st I made sure I had that holiday. A friend of mine is having a charity ball and is raising 1000 for 40 different charities in her 40th year. xx
My best friend and I were 40 within 3 weeks of each other and decided that we’d leave our boys and go away somewhere nice. I was imagining some foreign city break, we did London. It was lovely – nice hotel, did touristy things, had a nice afternoon tea and then meals out. I did go out for a girls meal out in a nice restaurant in town – with my mish mash of friends from all over the place, and some drinks afterwards with a few. It was nice but not a party.
After going to quite a few 40th parties that year I did get a bit jealous and wished I’d done one in a village hall. A friend had hers in a marquee with a band, bar and pig roast. It was fab but she said it was like organising her wedding. Another friend did a village hall one with dj and got a catering company and bar to do the food and drink. Hers was great too, and all she had to do was help set up and then clear up. Makes a difference if you’ve got family nearby to help like both of those do
A colleague of mine and her girl friends all started saving £10 a month from the age of 40. It meant they all had enough cash to go off for their 40ths abroad for a few days. I’m liking that idea and told my best fried about doing that for our 50ths. Especially as for our 40th she was newly pregnant so wouldn’t drink. Bit disappointing not to have a champagne or cocktail to celebrate.