This week I officially said adios to my thirties and hola to 40! Though
Covid didn't allow me to celebrate how I had wanted, my husband went
above and beyond and planned a wonderful surprise drive-by party,
decorated so beautifully, prepared me a delicious dinner, bought me
gorgeous flowers, and he and the kids gave me gift cards to places that
will allow me to continue the self-care I started months ago when the
pandemic hit. My family made my birthday so special and though I thought
40 would sting a little, it actually has felt so great and I am so
blessed to have reached this milestone feeling healthy, happy, strong,
and very loved!
But, before
I knew that my husband had planned an AMAZING 40th birthday for me, I took it
upon myself to create a fiesta themed dessert table for me and my kids
that would feature all the Mexican treats that I love! I figured if I
cannot go to Mexico right now, I would bring a little bit of Mexico to
me.
A fiesta themed 40th...so much fun and so easy to do! I was also very excited to pull all of the fun decor that I purchased a few years ago from when I went to Mexico for my husband's birthday celebration.
I first started with placing the serapes (colorful striped blankets) over the tables like tablecloths and I draped one on the wall above my backdrop to frame my table nicely. Then I followed that by adding paper flowers that I bought at the Dollar Tree! Such a great and inexpensive way to decorate for a fiesta!
Then I decided to get crafty and I created a sombrero from a terracotta planter
and saucer. I just glued the planter upside down and added a couple
coats of paint and a ribbon...easy and cute candy dish! Inside the dish, I placed my favorite Mexican candies...the classic De La Rosa candies and my ultimate favorite banderas de coco, which is a yummy coconut candy!
My table centerpieces included cute mini piñatas from Target wearing little sombreros that I found on Amazon! I also recycled our El Pato cans and used them as little vases for my paper flowers...though real flowers would look amazing as well!
The table wouldn't have been complete without the papel picado! I got this one from Party City, but Amazon also had many options!
The dessert table was filled with many treats, but I wanted to include a couple of adult beverages! So of course I chose Coronas...seemed fitting for the current timing, but I also needed margaritas because they are just delicious! They are even more tasty when they are from fresh squeezed limes and not from a mix.
Piñatas have always been a part of my birthday parties growing up and so I couldn't let this party go by without having one! Though, I didn't have the heart to beat this cutie for candy, so he remained a cute centerpiece for the table!
Pan dulce (sweet bread) was probably the most exciting addition to my table of goodies! Conchas are my ultimate favorite and I was so excited to share these little pieces of heaven with my kids. Let me just say they were also fans! I also included marranitos (little gingerbread piggies) and empanadas de calabaza...you bet we stuffed our faces!
The final element that I created for my spread of treats, though not quite a Mexican goodie, but a must have for all my tables....my decorated sugar cookies. Though it was a little strange making cookies for myself, I thought what the heck....it is a milestone and why not?! So I made little cookies to look like tacos, tostadas, cacti, little donkeys, and a plaque that said "forty". They turned out fun and festive and really complimented the table nicely.
I think everything turned out perfectly and this celebratory week was absolutely wonderful! I felt so special and having my family by my side, birthday wishes from friends, and so many delicious treats was really the icing on the cake!
Salud to 40 and
to this new chapter of my life!
