Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The birthday party (loooong post!) :)

A few friends and I have actually joked that if there were a 'Super Sweet 30' show on MTV (or VH1 at this age, I suppose, ha!) that my party should have been on it!  I can honestly say I've never felt so special and grateful to have such amazing friends and family to do something this nice for me.

The Dress:
A few of you on Twitter have asked for details when I said my dress situation was a fiasco - this is actually the short story.  I went to Atlanta for an entire weekend to find a dress for this party 2 weeks beforehand.  One particular amazing dress that I tried on was not available in my size that weekend, and because I'm stubborn I insisted on leaving Atlanta with a dress.  I finally found one, it was a good dress - but in the next week I couldn't stop thinking about the one I tried on that I liked sooo much.  I thought trying on the one I bought with all of the accessories/etc would make me feel better about it.  As soon as I put it on (one week before my party) - I looked at The Photog and said "we need to look online for the other dress, now."  After a week long scramble of phone calls, duplicate orders, and overnight shipping with Barney's NY (they were AMAZING, by the way)..... this oh-so-fabulous Thakoon dress was mine!  It arrived the day before the party and I wish I could wear it every day :)












Thakoon dress (here), Carole earrings (similar) and bangle (Dillard's - similar here or here), AT Loft ring (similar) and clutch (old - similar), Sam Edelman shoes (here) (also LOVE these), Other ring (similar)

The Style:
For my accessories, makeup, and hair - I really wanted an old Hollywood glamour look with a subtle cat eye and a bold red lip.  Enter MAC lipstick in 'Ruby Woo.'  This lipstick is fantastic - it stays on for hours* and this particular color is a really true, velvety red.  I kept the rest of the makeup pretty subtle and played up my lashes for a more intense, dramatic look around my eye area.  I curled my hair with a 1 and 1/4 inch curling iron and brushed it out underneath for soft waves.  I finished off with a shine spray and pinned back one side for a classic look.


*okay, so the lipstick didn't make it until 2am with the rest of the makeup... but close!


The Party:


The party was AMAZING.... and I have this handsome man to thank for it.  This is The Photog, and he knows how to throw a party folks!  The food was fabulous, the champagne was flowing, everyone had a fantastic time - I couldn't have wished for anything better!



With my lovely Momma, who better have passed those fabulous skin genes down to me!!  She turns 60 next month, look how gorgeous she is! :)


Posing with 'the other Sarah,' Bernardete, and Meredith - my girlfriends who gave me these (and yes I put them on with my dress!).....





I literally could not believe this cake... it was made by Royal Icing Custom Cakes in Nashville. In addition to being over-the-top perfect for my 30th, gorgeous, complete with amazing details - it was DELICIOUS!!  Thanks, Carolyn!

Really, the entire weekend of my birthday was just amazing.  I am overwhelmed by all of the fantastic people in my life and appreciate all of the sweet birthday messages, cards, and gifts so much!

30 is fabulous so far!! :)


35 comments:

  1. AHHHH!!! So excited and your birthday was FABULOUS! And yes...it totally could have been on MTV's Super Sweet 16+14! You look stunning in that dress! I absolutely love it, and for all the 'drama' it was worth, it was perfect! Your mom is gorgeous and you two have quite a strong and striking resemblance... Her and my mom are the same age, mine just hit the big 16+44 in July ;) Cheers to the new decade and cameraman is FAB!

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  2. Holy crap, woman. STUNNING dress, impeccable makeup, fanfuggin-tastic shoes! You looked absolutely beautiful and hello...can we talk about your Kate Middleton waist??!!

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  3. Glad everything worked out! What a great birthday. The dress is gorgeous and I love your old Hollywood glamour look! Happy birthday again. You'll love being 30.

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  4. LOVE everything about this post!! Can only hope to look as fabulous as you on your birthday! So fun!

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  5. Looks like a fabulous party! I love the dress and accessories, perfect for celebrating a birthday! :)The boots definitely made the look even better LOL

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  6. You look fantastic & that dress is gorgeous! Totally worth the hard work. I too just turned 30 a couple of months ago & its fab so far.'81 was a good year! From one Sarah to another, Happy 30th Birthday! Hope u felt like a princess. After al, that's what our name means! :)

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  7. @Anonymous

    Dear Anonymous,

    Whoever you are, can I just pay you to follow me around and give me compliments that make me feel great?? :)LOL. such nice things to say, thanks you so much!

    Sincerely,
    Sarah

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  8. the dress is stunning! glad you had an amazing birthday :) the cake is incredible, and your mom looks SO young and beautiful!

    couturelust

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  9. wow could your waist be ANY tinner? you look amazing! you def rang in 30 the RIGHT way!

    love from San Francisco,
    Britt+Whit

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  10. Just found your blog! It's so cute and I had so much fun reading through it, and your party. Totally think it would be funny if Vh1 did a show like that. :) You look really pretty though and pulled off the hollywood glam look perfectly. Your cake is SOO cool. I want one like that for my bday.

    Following you now

    xoDale
    www.savvyspice.blogspot.com

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  11. Hello Gorgeous! Seriously SO beautiful! The dress was perfect and accentuated your best assets, the shoes were KILLER, the Photog, friends, Gifts and Cake are priceless! HAPPY 30th!

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  12. This dress is fantastic, clearly worth your relentless search, now thats what I call perseverance!

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  13. i saw that dress online!! beautiful!!!

    love it!!

    http://www.brunetteletters.com/

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  14. Awhhhhhhhhh! I love the photos! looks like you had so much fun! and the dress is absolutely gorgeous, totally worth all the trouble you went through to get it ;) Looking gorgeous!

    xxx,

    Fashion Fractions

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  15. You look absolutely AMAZING! I absolutely love that dress and shoes. I am glad you had such a wonderful birthday!!

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  16. You look gorgeous. GORGEOUS!! That dress was definitely worth all the hassle, it's to die for!!! The photographer did a fantastic job, you have the bestest friends and a killer party!! Congrats and welcome to the fabulous 30-something crowd lol!
    xoxo
    Lia

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  17. Wow you look unbelievable :)

    Gorgeous look! Happy Be-lated Birthday!

    xx
    Jen

    http://belledecouture.com

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  18. Stunning-You
    Fabulously Fun-The Dress
    Amazing-The Cake

    Everything looked so perfect! I'm glad you had a great birthday party, and were able to wear your perfect dress!

    Natasha ~ Required2BeInspired

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  19. Girrrrrrl! Ahhhhmazing! First thing I thought of when I saw that shot of you looking back was "Hollywood glamour"! Your makeup was flawless and that DRESS! Wow. It was worth the drama because that dress was made for YOU! Absolutely flattering in every way. What a fantastic way to welcome the 30s!

    Nice to finally get a glimpse of the photog - he followed me on twitter the other day, too funny. :)

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  20. This dress is absolutely gorgeous on you. I can see why you would want to hunt it down and grab it for the special event. And that cake is amazing too! - Katy

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  21. WOW, happy 30th! What an incredible night and I absolutely love your look. Congrats on getting the dress... I like you, determined like moi. haha. Your cake? KILLER!
    Can't wait to meet you next month!

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  22. I love that cake and you looked amazing! I can see how that dress was the one - it fits you amazingly, Sarah! I want to see more details of the back!! :)

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  23. Gorgeous dress, good for you for going for it! Your party looks lovely, Happy 30th!!!

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  24. I absolutely love your dress! You look great!

    xx

    Erin @ http://www.trufflesnruffles.com/

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  25. You look gorgeous (and that's how you usher in the 30's)! What is that nail polish you are wearing??

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  26. @homestilo hi! It is Sally Hansen 'pat on the black' :)

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  27. oh em gee!!! What a weekend! You look absolutely stunning and I am in LOVE with your dress!!! You entered a new decade in style girl! xo

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  28. Welcome to 30...I have been there for over a year and can say...it is damn fabulous:)

    You are SUCH A STUNNER in this dress..OMG...I love how you styled it down to the glam red lips! First time stopping in...definitely following along...Can't wait to dive into your past posts!
    C

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  29. you look FABULOUS!! the dress is amazing on you! Happy 30th! x

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  30. Such an amazing birthday dress! looks like you had an amazing time!
    Shasie of Live Life in Style

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  31. Laetitia a.k.a @splendiddelightSeptember 5, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    This post makes me smile :) Happy 30th! Glad you made good on your goals and hope that 30 is your best year yet!

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  32. You look stunning! And have inspired me to wear red lippie next time I go out!

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  33. I am obsessed with this dress. The whole outfit is stunning. I love this vintage feel to it.

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  34. There's NOTHING LIKE a Thakoon (but you know that already). No wonder Anna Wintour promoted him, making him (first) a Super Star at Vogue, now known worldwide.

    A gorgeous dress on a gorgeous birthday girl. You look GREAT!


    Thank you for sharing this post. Loved it!

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