Birthday week

It's my 40th birthday this week and we have been partying hard chez Fun and VJs.

I've been told 40 is the new 30, but that's from people who are much older than me. No one in their 20s or 30s has told me that, they just look at me pityingly...

Fresh pineapples are the new decor item of the moment. I predict the coconut to be next summer's icon of the moment.

On the weekend we gave the Sow's Ear's kitchen and deck it's first real party test. Deck parties are fraught with danger with the many news stories you hear about deck collapses in Australia...but it was all good fortunately. Our public liability insurance was left unscathed.

We had about 40 good friends come over to help me celebrate reaching the milestone. It was a casual island themed party. Think palm fronds, pineapples and cheesy Polynesian ukulele music and that was the Sow's Ear on Saturday night.

Deck decorated with Golden Cane palm leaves from our garden.

We hired mobile Brisbane caterer Standing Room Only to prepare the finger food for the night, while my lovely handy-in-the-kitchen friends made some killer desserts. It was seriously great food and I would recommend Andrew from Standing Room Only in an instant to anyone hosting a cocktail function in Brisbane. Not only was he super-professional, he was the nicest person. And we like nice.

Andrew finalising the most delicious lamb koftas skewers to be circulated to the hungry crowd

The long island bench in our kitchen worked a treat for food prep.

My lovely friend N made these fresh raspberry and chocolate cheese cakes. To die for. Profiteroles in the background.

I wore a navy hibiscus dress and the highest red heels to the party. When the last of the guests had left after one o'clock in the morning, I was never happier to kick off those shoes. My poor aching 40 year old feet.

Waiting for our mates to arrive...

Party lights and tropical shirts on the deck

It was a great weekend.

Now I have to pick up the boys from my Mum's place. Her birthday gift was babysitting - a couple of child-free days has been very nice and relaxing...and I kind of feel young again...