Birthday Soirees | Celebrating the Expiry of Youth and Beauty Queens

Expect the unexpected when it comes to Michael Pearce. Titled attorney, father, husband, blogger… and now deceased?! Not literally, but he sure pulled off the dark angel look at his July FUNERAL themed birthday celebration. An evening as unique as himself, Michael made his arrival at good friend Staci and Quang Henderson’s River Oaks home, driven in by hubby Matt Burrus in none other than a… (drum roll please) Hearse! A statement entry to set the tone for the rest of the evening. He emerged looking nothing short of fabulous in head to toe black and adorned with a full set of angel wings!

This intimate gathering of close friends dressed in mourning exuded so much energy, love and laughter to celebrate Pearce’s day. You could have easily mistaken it for a celebration of life instead of the after life, but who’s keeping track? From decorated fascinators to beautiful lace gowns, everyone was dressed to the nines for this beautiful funeral setting. While the women looked elegant, poised, and very fashion forward, the gentlemen sported suits laced with sheen. A fully dressed skeleton family decorated the corners of the room.

Wine and champagne flowed from the beautifully built-in wet bar, decorated by a wine wall cellar, one of many beautiful installations. The finger foods, appropriately fit for an elegant funeral ranged from charcuterie and cheese boards, to a single cupcake with a single candle for that one final wish. Joy Box also made beautiful arrangements of glitter-dipped roses to add to the not so ominous event. And no night is complete without a toast to the honorary deceased, or in this case, a roast to our vibrant as ever person of honor.

Michael had the pleasure of hearing the most exorbitant roasts from each one of his friends. The roast started out with a eulogy describing the many quirks of Pearce’s that everyone has grown to love about him. Followed by equally sweet and sassy speeches by good friends Donae Chramosta, Tracy Faulkner, and Anika Jackson. However, no one could top Ralph Burch’s impeccable eulogy leaving everyone in splits of laughter with his comment: “Soon the ‘H’ in your belt which represents Hermes will be mistaken as Hernia.” The toughest act to follow had to have been a beautifully sung piece by Tianna Hall. Choosing to surround himself by some of his dearest friends, Pearce was definitely shown some love from everyone at his party.

Such a unique event proved to be one of the best party ideas I could ever think of. Why wait until you have passed to find out what the people around you think, believe, and love about you when you can hear it all while you’re alive and kicking? Three Cheers to Michael Pearce, may he always surprise us!

Photos by Quy Tran

Tianna Hall’s performance

Michael Pearce

Vicki West, Ralph Burch, Quan and Staci Henderson

Staci Henderson and Krupali Laxmidas

Tracy and Harry Faulkner with Donae Chramosta

Meanwhile beauty queens, I mean literally, beauty pageant all stars gathered to celebrate Miss Houston First Runner Up Blaine Ochoa’s 24th Birthday.

Logan Lester, Nicole O’Brian Lassiter, and Beth Muecke

Where does the next generation of Houston’s up and coming fashionable elite go to celebrate a birthday? No place other than Saks Fifth Avenue‘s signature 51fifteen Restaurant. The amazingly beautiful and glamorous friends got together to celebrate in style. The talented young birthday girl looked gorgeous in a red dress by Cinq à Sept and the limited edition New Very Prive TrashPrint Christian Louboutin pumps. This is a special celebration as Blaine has been quite busy working towards her upcoming Miss Texas USA competition. “I’ve been preparing for months and I’m looking forward to stepping on stage and competing for this incredible, life changing opportunity,” shares Blaine.

Guests sipped champagne and enjoyed plenty of delicious appetizers at the restaurant’s bar area specially reserved for her birthday. Spotted in their sexy best were: Miss Houston 2017 Hannah Johannes, Former Miss Texas USA Nicole O’Brian Lassiter along with hubby James Lassiter, Miss Houston 2016 Logan Lester, Danielle Bosley, Beth Muecke, Rick Klein and Jennifer Dvorak, Jessica Hatch, Seth Ochoa, Sarah Strain, and many others.

Sarah Strain, Kerri Hayes, Blaine Ochoa, Mariangeles Cueva, and Jessica Hatch

Blaine Ochoa and Karina Monroy

Seth Ochoa, and Blaine Ochoa

Special Contributions By Krupali Laxmidas

Krupali Laxmidas is a London born, Zimbabwe raised, and now self-proclaimed and proud Houstonian. Krupali studied International Business and Marketing at St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX and is currently working full time in finance. She hasn’t lost her passion for fashion, travel, and interiors and began blogging on the side to fuel her creative side. Re-emerging herself in the Houston culture, she incorporates her experiences from living abroad and her background into much of what she writes about.