Today I Am 40!

I think I am innately a thankful person. I know some people might consider turning a bit wacko to know they are turning a year older. I am feeling the opposite. I have been announcing to the whole world my age today - my 40th birthday.

40, it's such a big number and as I go through the years after this, it will get bigger and bigger until I will finally lose count of my age. Kidding aside, I am glad I am now 40. I have learned so much as I trudged along the highway of life for the past 39 years. And now that I am 40, I feel more confident and sure of myself because I have experienced so much. I am wiser now, more discerning and understanding, more loving and dedicated to the people who matters.

Life begins at 40. That's what they all say. So, now that I am 40, my life is just beginning. The road may be bumpy at some point but knowing that it's a part of life that we all have to go through makes accepting being 40 easier.

Well, the numbers are rising - my age, waistline, number of gray hairs, the crow's feet, my varicose veins and the number of medications I am taking. However, that won't stop me from enjoying what being 40 is - wise, smart and definitely in control.

I am 40 today. I am thankful for that. Thank you Lord for this wonderful day. Until my next birthday :)

Happy birthday to me! Sweet!

Photo credit: owner of Maxine cartoon

Ria's 40th Birthday Bash Giveaway

I can't believe I'm saying this but I am actually excited to turn 40! I am turning 40! Hooray!
For that, I am giving away 2 of my favorite goodies to the lucky participants. The mechanics are simple but mandatory and will be tracked by rafflecopter.com.

• Like my It's My Party page in Facebook (10 points)
• Write about the giveaway and link back (10 points)
• Follow msculit at Twitter (10 points)
• Click on my Google +1 anywhere in my blog (5 point)
• Add all my blogs to your blogroll (5 points)

www.riablahgs.com

www.homefamilyheart.com

www.redlipspinkytoes.com

www.riatravelbug.blogspot.com

The giveaway starts on February 16, 2012 12:00 midnight (UAE local time) and will end on March 15, 2012 at the stroke of midnight (UAE local time). Then give me few days to verify all the gathered entries to announce the winner. This is my first time to hold a giveaway and to use rafflecopter.com so please bear with me. I may still have a hang-over after that for celebrating my "over-the-hill" moment :) This giveaway is open to all bloggers around the world with a valid postal address. All prizes will be shipped regularly via postal services.

The lucky winners will be notified by email so make sure to "like" my page in Facebook so I have a way of contacting you.

Please scroll down to view the prizes and the entry form to fill up. You may use the logo of this giveaway (the on top of the article) along with other photos here as teasers for your posts. Kindly link back.

1st Giveaway - H&M Loot 

Consists of:

Big canvas tote bag (with sling handle)

Hand creams (2x 10ml)

Big pouch

Big eyeshadow palette (32 shades)

Manicure set

2nd Giveaway - Bath and Body Works Loot

Consists of:

Sweat Pea Fragrance Mist (88ml)

Sweat Pea Body Lotion (88ml)

Sweat Pea Shower Gel (88ml)

Join now and Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


You can embed the entry form in your blog article by copying this code:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/NzY5NjY0ZWZmMTE3OTQxMmM1ZTFiZmRlMmZkZmIxOjA=/

Thanks! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! :)

Turning 40

When I was young, I used to think that as soon as you turned 40, you were considered old. What did I know then that I didn't know now? I didn't realize that I would be in the same position - I would turn 40 soon.

I will leave the "thirty-something" group in a matter of few weeks. I am not freaking out because I am turning 40. I am rather feeling uncertain because I will soon become a middle-aged woman. Is there something wrong about that? Certainly not. I think it's normal to feel uneasy because you don't know what the future holds. All I know is, I am adding another year in my existence, more gray hair sprouting from my crowning glory, added crow's feet here and there, slight achy joints and a wider girth this time! Oh, let's not forget the weird mood swings too. Well, I am ready for them but are they ready for me?

40! It's becoming a very big number. Imagine putting that many candles on my cake... I would run out of air blowing all of them just as I am trying to blow away the worries and fears of middle-age. I am convincing myself that it can't be that bad. I have friends who are pushing 50 this year and they managed to stay happy all throughout the middle-age ordeal. This too will pass. On the contrary, I should be happy because my life is just beginning just like the adage "Life begins at 40!" and so is mine.

Oh, happy 40th birthday to me!!! Thank you God for this blessing.

Giveaway - Coming Soon!

I just completed the goodies I will giveaway for my 40th birthday here in my It's My Party blog. I am still figuring out about the mechanics. I still have to tie some lose ends before I can post the final giveaway promo which will run from 15 Feb. to my birthday on the 15th of March. 

Why am I doing this? Well, I want to celebrate my "over the hill" moment with my blogger friends. The goodies are some of my favorite things and I want to share it to the lucky winners. Yes, you read it right, winners. I will be giving away 2 prizes so others will have a chance of winning as well.

What can you expect from the giveaway? It will be a simple giveaway. No fuss and it will be open to all bloggers - worldwide! I just hope that if you do win, you live somewhere recognizable! LOL! Not Timbuktu nor Antarctica. I still don't know how I am going to send the goodies but wherever you are, you will certainly get it.

I may get the help of Rafflecopter.com for the giveaway database tracking. I still need to figure out what I want to do with the mechanics though. 

So, dear family, friends and lovely followers and bloggers alike, watch out for the launching of my 40th Birthday Bash Giveaway this 15th of Feb.

See you all here in my party zone! I'M TURNING 40!!!! Hooray!

Planning a European Trip

It's still early to decide what to do on my 40th birthday but I am considering a European trip with my family for a week in April. Although my birthday is in March, my daughter's spring break will be in April.

I am thinking of themes to do for my 40th birthday trip. One recurring thought comes to mind - seeing the beautiful tulips in full bloom in Keukenhof, Lisse, Netherlands. I have been imagining the colorful vista in my head already. My decision is leaning towards the trip than a party bash or a birthday Louis Vuitton bag.

My travel bug is biting me again and I have always dreamed of seeing the wonderful Keukenhof, the windmills, the beautiful canals of Amsterdam, the Edam cheese factory and the tiny village of Madurodam. I may throw in a side trip to Belgium since it is close by and is also a part of the Schengen.

I am already looking for budget hotels and transportation available in Netherlands should I decide to take the Belgium side-trip. My husband has a relative in Denmark so we may also squeeze a day or two there before flying back to Dubai.

My 40th birthday will probably be a trip to Europe. I'll narrow down the options before the year ends and once I have my daughter's school time table for 2011-2012.

Europe, here we come!!!