At 29: An Effortlessly Fun Birthday Pool Party

For my birthday, I was just grateful, to be alive, healthy and moving through life In peace, until two weeks ago, when it occurred to me that I was turning 29…my last number 2. I had to celebrate. Invites were sent, responses received and the party was on.

I loved planning every bit of it—a lighthearted pool party, a fairly intimate crowd and lots of good food.

I’ll save the details of the planning for another post however, I’ll fill you in on a little party planning trick I learned from my mother. When people come to your party, they’re looking forward to the food so LET THEM EAT!!!

We started off with popsicles! The main course was a good mix of barbecue-friendly flavors from Italy, Mexico and Southern comfort. I had everything catered to save me the stress of prepping and cooking.

Birthday cake came along with dessert selections of chocolate mousse, madeleines, cupcakes and cookies. My birthday cake was a Berry Chantilly Vanilla Cake, layered with almond mascarpone chantilly icing. I had it decorated with marble shavings, strawberries and blueberries filled between layers and piled on top in the shape of the American flag, to pay homage to my actual birthday, that’s on the Fourth of July—same day as America’s independence anniversary.

The sun went down and we took the party inside. I had a few games lined up, like Jenga, Beer Pong and Cards Against Humanity. Beer pong is always enjoyable although the one game that was an ultimate hit and played for most of the night was Sick and Twisted Charades. This is easily the only game you’d ever need for your party.

Sick and Twisted Charades is a rib crackin’ game that will have even your quietest friend fiercely competing and willingly stepping out of their comfort zone.

It’s the perfect game when you have friends from different parts of your life come together and you want to save them that gruesome “small talk phase”. We created two teams and had a good ole boys vs girls competition. We beat them so bad, they had to call a timeout for a lil’ team meeting and still lost, even after they tried to cheat multiple times.

My family was cracking jokes with me, saying I now have to start lying about my age. I doubt I will. I like who I am, how far I’ve come, and how much I’ve grown from my experiences.

If you asked 20-year-old me what I’d be up to at 29, I’d tell you…actually, I’d guarantee you that I’d be putting finishing touches to my wedding. Now at 29, I’m proud that I’m not basing marriage on age, but on meeting someone worth spending decades with.