Diana Elizabeth Steffen birthday party French theme phoenix Arizona blogger

My 40th Birthday Soiree

The party French themed soiree I’ve been planning to host in our new backyard since June, finally came and went! It feels like a wedding and I had the best time EVER with my closest friends! I can’t believe I’m turning 40 time, has flown by and there is so much to celebrate!

Diana Elizabeth Steffen birthday party French theme phoenix Arizona blogger

Wearing my mom’s dresss (outfit #2 of 3)

“Is it painful?” he asked, “I’m 10 years behind you.”

“Not if you throw yourself a big party to look forward to,” I answered.

Oh and I should add, have three outfit changes, like Mariah. Because that’s what I did. (Only two dress outfits shown here on the blog tho before the photog had to leave).

Diana Elizabeth Steffen birthday party French theme phoenix Arizona blogger

Diana Elizabeth Steffen birthday party French theme phoenix Arizona blogger

silhouette artist at Diana Elizabeth Steffen birthday party

hired silhouette artist at fresh theme party Diana Elizabeth Steffen blogger Arizona phoenix

We hired this precious silhouette artist Judith Housel who I had to track down and convince her to drive to my party!! I just adore her! My best friend Meagan found her a while back and recommended her and I knew I had to have her at my French themed birthday party!! She works with her husband and she is 77 years old and just the happiest, sweetest woman. I feel blessed to have her cut my silhouette!

Look how proud she is when she shows me what she cut, it’s so adorable. I cannot handle how cute she is!

accordion player at Diana Elizabeth steffen birthday party French theme

seating area back yard

accordion player

backyard backyard

Diana Elizabeth friends

birthday party

backyard

These are probably some of my favorite in black and white… I just love photos in B&W!

Diana Elizabeth Steffen birthday party French theme phoenix Arizona blogger

Diana Elizabeth Steffen birthday party French theme phoenix Arizona blogger

Diana Elizabeth Steffen birthday party French theme phoenix Arizona blogger

Diana Elizabeth Steffen birthday party French theme phoenix Arizona blogger

This is the time when you tell me you agree with my girlfriend Lauren that Benjamin looks like a Bachelor contestant LOL!!! Best comment EVER.

Thankful for these ladies in my life (and their awesome husbands). I think what I need to mention is how all of them after the party said how much fun they had and liked my friends and this to me reaffirms that I’ve made a great collection of friends who are kind, welcoming and just the best people on this planet I get to do life with. I am blessed that these wonderful friends of mine choose me back. *tear* I sure love every face in this photo!! I can’t wait to frame this!

I also had some friends fly and drive in from out of state or out of city to make it and that means the world to me.

seating area

silhouette artist

silhouette artist at Diana Elizabeth steffen party

friends backyard party

40 marquee sign

friends 40 sign

details rose

friends talking

Diana Elizabeth Steffen birthday party French theme phoenix Arizona blogger

flowers

diana holding birthday balloons by 40 sign

food

silhouette artist

Diana Elizabeth and Kate nelle

Now for some iPhone pics to fill in the rest that I’m so thankful for! I had barely any time to do anything, in fact no time to capture my own party so I’m thankful for these girlfriends who took pictures and videos for me. Also my catering company for taking some pics too, ahhhh so thankful!

phoenix crepe truck

phoenix crepe truck

phoenix crepe truck

phoenix catering company

catering food phoenix

chocolate covered strawberries

party center

Diana Elizabeth and Kate nelle

catering in phoenix arizona

catering company sign for French food

crepe truck phoenix

There you have it. A party that flew by so quickly. There is so much to say, but truthfully I am so tired (but in a happy good way). One of my favorite things was getting texts from friends after saying how much fun they had and how nice my other friends were. Many know each other but I have several different groups. But it’s nice when they collide and I love to mix my friends because they are all amazing wonderful people who I am honored to call friends. So when I hear everyone compliment each other and say how nice my friends are (or vendors telling me how friendly my guests were) it makes my heart soar.

I’ve been looking for these friends all my life – since I was 20 I heard a woman say a woman had an incredible collection of friends. It made such an impression on me that I was decided I was going to make it my life’s mission to look for friends who were ride or die, faithful, always there, texting me until I was done talking about it, and fight on my behalf. At 40, I can say I have found them. It’s taken time, it’s taken investment, but boy is it worth it. Life is so good.

Photos by Brian Goddard, edited by me. Some photos taken by iPhone by guests and vendors.
Hair and makeup by Lizzy Marsh.
Black dress here.

Vendors

Because of these vendors my party was truly a hit and I am so thankful for them! I didn’t receive any discount or any pressure to blog or post about them but I am so appreciative for their service and kindness and how they made my party so unique. I searched high and low for good vendors and they delivered – I cannot tell you how difficult it was to have people get back to me or show interest or even SHOW UP!! I’m not even kidding on the way people run their business it’s astonishing to me. Trust me you will be in great hands with these very professional vendors. I want to throw another party just to hire them again!


Diana Elizabeth is off to plan her next party…well there’s a few. 4 parties in December, but a smaller scale. But still, party time. Let’s get this Christmas tree up!

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Diana Elizabeth Steffen setting the table for her annual garden party

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Diana Elizabeth is an author, photographer, and obsessive thrift shopper. You can typically find her in the garden wrist deep in dirt, at a local estate sale or planning her next creative themed party. She continues to blog weekly.

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