I don’t remember much about any of my birthdays because I’ve never had epic parties or anything, other that when I was a child and I’d invite some friends home, but even then there would be like 4 or 5 of us. I do remember celebrating my birthday home in ’98 (age 10) dressed up as Mel C and playing all sorts of games that I had previously organized with my mum, one of them consisting of looking for Milkybar buttons hidden all over the house (and it was really hard to find buttons in Spain anywhere, really), or staging an improvised play with my friends in front of the parents (I wonder why the kids love doing that). We also went to the Telepizza (a Spanish chain of restaurants that make sushi, I’m kidding, pizza, that was hilarious I know) and we made our own pizzas (they let you do that for your birthday) (if you’re a kid, that is). What I DO remember is the excitement my upcoming birthday would cause me during the previous weeks. I loved organizing the day (there would be a nice schedule, of course), thinking about the cake, the presents, and sending out homemade invitations (or Spice Girls cards) (yes, I was a total fan). That is what I miss the most nowadays, that anticipation. But these days are not so bad either. Last year I got great presents, which to you might seem lame but they mean a lot to me. Homemade presents or gifts that show that the person giving them to you really knows you are the best. For instance, this year I got this, and this. Best presents EVER (at least, of course, for me). I collect Schleich figures and I love hot-air balloons. Therefore I say YES. I also say yes to parenthesis marks.
Gem @ Biography of a Beatific Beatnik
I’ve attached a photo that I took last year on my 27th birthday in December. I spent the day by myself (after a year characterised, for me, by solitude/independence) in Lincoln before meeting up with my chap for a wonderful birthday dinner. I walked under the bridge in the photograph and felt it was posing a rather poignant question, especially on my 27th birthday. I’ve tried since then to answer it, and I’ve had a better year than the previous one because of it. Happy birthday!
Megan @ Time After Tea
One of my most memorable birthday moments was the speech my dad made at my 21st birthday. My dad is a man of very few words, a lot of my friends had joked that they had never even heard him speak. He was adamant he was making a speech at my 21st and I have to admit I was a little nervous about how it was going to go. Well apparently my dad is an amazing public speaker and had kept it a secret for the past 21 years of my life. He had all the guests laughing but most of all it was great to hear how proud he was of me – I had always known it but it was great to hear it out loud. People were so shocked by his speech that they still bring it up two years later.
Amanda @ Itchin’ Stitchin’
So to celebrate your 27th birthday Andrea, I wrote the top 10 things you must or mustn’t do for your birthday.
10. You must wear a party outfit because birthday suits are not allowed.
9. You are allowed to shake presents and guess but don’t shake the envelopes and try to guess if there is money in them.
8. It doesn’t matter how old you are, or will be, the Happy Birthday song will end with you smelling and looking like a monkey.
7. You must see what celebrities share the same birthday with you ~ Wait you shouldn’t have to do that since it’s your birthday so I did it for you…. Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Kimmel, Gerard Butler, and Steve Zahn.
6. You’re too old for birthday spankings and a pinch to grow an inch – consider it assault now.
5. You must get balloons filled with helium, and one for each year.
4. When everyone has left you must pop balloons and make silly helium voice noises.
3. Cake – some love it, some hate it … everyone must have a piece on their birthday
2. You must blow out all your candles – your never too old to do this – and make the best birthday wish you can possibly think of.
Esther @ In the Des(s)ert
The best present I got (material present, I mean) wasn’t given to me by my family or boyfriend, but by my friend and flatmate Marie. Last year, knowing I collect old books, she gave me one that belonged to her family and dated from 1949, the oldest in my library. And that’s not it. It was also signed by someone and addressed to his grandfather, wishing him a merry christmas. I don’t know how I could hold back tears when she gave it to me, but the happiness I felt at that moment can’t be compared to anything.
Robyn @ Twitch Vintage
For my 22nd birthday I decided to throw a cosmic bowling party. In order to enter you were required to wear at least one article of neon clothing. Everyone looked hilarious, and I was having a great time. Halfway through the party a guy who I had only been on 2 dates with and lived over 2 hours away showed up in an ALL neon ensemble to surprise me. This included a tight yellow tank top, tiny green shorts, and tall orange socks. It was the sweetest, and most disturbing present ever.
I also went to an antique mall with my mom and found this fabulous old photograph of a woman with her three birthday cakes.
My boyfriend flew out to the Windy City for the weekend so we could celebrate early (my actual birthday being on a Wednesday), which really got my spirits up. He even bought (and brought with him) a Holga camera!! We had drinks in the Signature Lounge at Hancock Tower, walked along the pier, took photos in Millennium Park, posed with the Micheal Jordan statue, and sat on a bus for an hour to visit the Threadless store! It was magical despite be chilled to the bone and stressed about my conference. I can only hope my birthday this next March will be just as fun! 
Itziar @ Vidas de Mercurio
A few years ago, my boyfriend and one of my best friends planned a weekend trip to London as a present (my birthday fell on a Friday). They told everybody about it, because I wanted to throw a party and everybody had to pretend to be busy that day and say they couldn’t come. The result? I got really upset because nobody wanted to celebrate my birthday with me…so when I got out of work I went to the supermarket and bought some cake to eat on my on. When I got home, considerably later than expected, I found both my friend and boyfriend absolutely hysterical because we were going to miss our flight to London and they couldn’t find me and, what did I do? Laugh hysterically? Kiss them and hug them and pack? Take my passport and run to the airport without any luggage thinking about London’s shops? No. The only thing that came to my mind was asking “what should I take? what’s the weather like in London?” Anyway, it was a great weekend and I am often reminded of my great enthusiasm…
Kjirsten @ Simply Loverly
First off Happy Happy Birthday to sweet Andrea!!! Hope this next year is a great one. Thank you for our lovely present of sharing birthday memories! :D
On my 6th birthday I was adopted to my aunt and uncle. They started off by always celebrating my birthday and our anniversary. Every year I get a little something special like a bouquet of flowers or balloons. For my 16th birthday my parents sent me balloons to school that said “Happy Birthday” and one that said “Happy Anniversary”. My friends thought that the floral shop messed up and sent the anniversary on by accident. Nope it wasn’t, it was our 10 year anniversary! This last year we celebrated 22 years!!!
breakfast with your favourite people, balloons, moustaches and party with amazing people (aka best friends).
I love my parents for persevering through adversity; I guarantee you that my parents have no recollection of this birthday party gone array but I will remember that birthday for the rest of my life and that is no lie. Actually… I am going to add Operation Dumbo Drop to my Netflix queue right now. It’s been over 15 years since I’ve seen it.The tag line you ask “A story about big dreams and small miracles.” Happy 12th birthday to me!
Blair @ Blair Necessities
I vividly recall my 4th birthday.
We were living in Madrid and I was going to a Montessori school. We were allowed to bring treats for the rest of the class. I had asked my mother to make some mint brownies, they were my favorite. On my birthday she showed up at the school with them and a whole bunch of other treats in tow. So, I was tasked with serving my classmates and there were so many treats they decided to open it up to the other classrooms. When I was serving the last class the only treat left was the brownies I had requested. I went to my mom, and lamented (complained) that I would not get any if I served those. She looked me in the eyes and proceeded to tell me that sharing was what we were supposed to do, that it was not a very nice thing to be selfish when serving others. I could tell that she was very serious. I think my eyes must have welled up because she offered to make me another batch later. which sorta helped, but not much. I had been looking forward to the mint brownies for the whole morning.
So, I picked up the pan, and walked around and served the older kids who were the lucky recipients of the treat I had wanted. I watched my hands scoop them up with a spatula and carefully place the square on a napkin in front these kids who I did not really know. And as I watched my hands repeat this movement until I served the last one… my mind was reeling with the thought that my mother must really love me to teach me the lesson about sharing and to not be selfish. Really, it was such a profound moment; what with feeling my mothers love, learning that sharing is an important part of community, learning that it was easy to have selfish tendencies. I treasure that lesson and keep it very close to my heart. When I tell it in front of my mother she always cringes and thinks it is a bad thing, but really I think ti was the best present she has ever given me.
And no, I don’t recall that she made them for me later. Somehow, I think it is more powerful and special because she did not.
Ana @ The Magic Box That Came to the Other Side
My nice birthday memory took place when I was 11 years old. I usually celebrated my birthdays at home with some friends. My mother would take care of everything and of course everything went just right; good music, delicious home-made food and the best cookie cake (my favourite). But as you get old you start dreaming about celebrating that special day somewhere that will surprise your friends, which was hard because my mother’s very traditional. But that year something changed, she gave me tickets for the amusement park and the result was one of the best days of my life. I could go on all the rides that I wasn’t allowed to go on before, we ate fast food and sweets, a huge chocolate milkshake and, the best part, is that she did it all too. She was just one more of us, laughing and enjoying herself. I think that after so many years she allowed me to see something that she usually hides from everybody; her inner child. And this is without a doubt one of my best memories.
