{"id":9049,"date":"2026-10-21T01:09:32","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T01:09:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/silvybrand.com\/?p=9049"},"modified":"2026-10-21T01:09:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T01:09:32","slug":"alisons-40th-birthday-party-cup-of-jo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/silvybrand.com\/?p=9049","title":{"rendered":"Alison’s 40th Birthday Party | Cup of Jo"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\"Alison<\/p>\n

Alison<\/a> and her husband Zach both turned 40 this year, so they threw a big party. \u201cWe thought about a sit-down dinner,\u201d she told me. \u201cBut we love being silly, we love wigs, we love karaoke, so we thought, what if we turn this into a kid\u2019s birthday party but for adults?\u201d Here are a few very fun photos, plus Alison\u2019s recap\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Alison<\/p>\n

\u201cWe liked this neighborhood dive bar called Boat<\/a>, but they didn\u2019t have a phone number or website or email address. So, I went there three or four times and became best friends with the bartender and convinced her to let us have a party in the back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Alison<\/p>\n

\"Alison<\/p>\n

\u201cMy dream was to wear a dress that was over-the-top. I searched for pink dresses and ordered two: short<\/a> and long<\/a>. I couldn\u2019t decide, but Joanna came over and I tried them on, and Jo said, \u2018You can wear the long one anytime in your life, but this mini one<\/a> is like, \u201cThis is 40!!!!\u201d\u2019 And I felt really hot that night, so it was a great choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Alison<\/p>\n

\u201cFor food, we decided to go high\/low, like chicken nuggets with caviar, plus big piles of French fries. We also put up decorations, like fringe garlands and paper chains, and the balloons were our birth year, 1986.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Alison<\/p>\n

\"Alison<\/p>\n

\"Alison<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were like, let\u2019s get a face painter! We were also going to do temporary tattoos, but someone was like, you should do REAL tattoos. I didn\u2019t even know that was a thing, but you can hire people<\/a> to come to your party. My brother was like, no one is going to get a tattoo, but eight people did!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Alison<\/p>\n

\"Alison<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, we did karaoke. Here, Freddie and Zach were singing The Backstreet Boys\u2019\u00a0I Want It That Way<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Alison<\/p>\n

\"Alison<\/p>\n

\u201cMy karaoke song is Miley Cyrus\u2019s Flowers<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Alison<\/p>\n

\u201cWe invited family, neighbors, and friends from all facets of our life. I love when people jump in and just belt something out, even if they have terrible voices; that\u2019s my favorite.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Alison<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we served a vintage-style cake<\/a> \u2014\u00a0the more colors the better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Alison<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the night, Zach and I sang Unwritten<\/a> by Natasha Bedingfield, which is a crowdpleaser. We love dancing by acting out the lyrics. For \u201cfeel the rain on your skin,\u201d we\u2019ll pretend it\u2019s raining. For \u201cstaring at the page,\u201d we\u2019ll be reading books. And for the Journey song that goes, \u201cI\u2019m just a small-town girl,\u201d we act out like we\u2019re on a train or under a streetlight, and he\u2019ll be the street light and I\u2019ll be standing there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Alison<\/p>\n

\"Alison<\/p>\n

\u201cWe loved the whole night so much. It was a real reflection of who we are. I love attention, and Zach\u2019s along for the ride.\u201d<\/p>\n

P.S. The weird thing I did at my 40th birthday party<\/a>, and 12 readers share their favorite birthday celebrations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

(Photos by our friend Ana Gambuto<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

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5<\/span> COMMENTS<\/p>\n

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