Paula's Totally Tubular 40th Birthday - 80s Music Party

Who made mixtapes back in the day? But did you ever make a mixtape cake?? This was the perfect touch for Paula’s 80s themed birthday party.

Who doesn’t love a themed birthday party? And moreso, who doesn’t love an 80s party?

For Paula’s 40th birthday bash, it was all 80s, complete with guests glamed out in their finest spikey hair and loud neon fashions. And of course, there was an all 80s playlist. So take a trip down memory lane, and check out these hits from (yikes), more than 30 years ago!

Open Dancing
Harold Faltemeyer - Axel F Theme
Pet Shop Boys - What Have I Done To Deserve This
Huey Lewis - If This Is It
Nice-n-Wild - Diamond Girl
Gary Numan - Cars
Cure - Cut Here
Loverboy - Working for the Weekend
Cars - Shake It Up
Bonnie Tyler - Holding Out For a Hero
Musical Youth - Pass The Dutchie
Modern English - Melt With You
Go-Go's - Vacation
Toto - Rosanna
Falco - Rock Me Amadeus
Mr. Mister - Kyrie
General Public - Tenderness
B-52's - Rock Lobster
Cure - Close To Me
Duran Duran - Reflex
Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls Pt. 2 (Select Mix Remix)
Prince - When Doves Cry
Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life
Jermaine Stewart - We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off (Select Mix Remix)
Run-DMC - It's Tricky
Simple Minds - Don't You Forget About Me
Wham! - Everything She Wants
Erasure - Chains of Love
Nena - 99 Red Balloons
Bananarama - Cruel Summer
Robbie Nevil - C'est La Vie (Select Mix Remix)
The Bangles - Walk Like An Egyptian (dance mix)
David Bowie - Let's Dance
J. Geils Band - Centerfold
Culture Club - Karma Chameleon
Cameo - Word Up
Madonna - Into the Groove
Whitney Houston - How Will I Know (Select Mix Remix)
A-Ha - Take On Me
OMD - If You Leave
Prince - Raspberry Beret
New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle
Pet Shop Boys - What Have I Done To Deserve This
Run-DMC - My Adidas
Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
Van Halen - Jump
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
Rick James - Superfreak
Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Morris Day and the Time - Jungle Love
Madonna - Like a Prayer
Phil Collins - Sussudio
Journey - Don't Stop Believin'
Run DMC - Walk This Way
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Salt N Pepa - Push It
Dead or Alive - You Spin Me Round
Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough
Michael Jackson - P.Y.T
Chaka Khan - I Feel For You
Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Cure - Just Like Heaven
Prince - Kiss
Beatles - Happy Birthday
Madonna - Holiday
Soft Cell - Tainted Love
Violent Femmes - Blister In The Sun
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen
Clash - Train in Vain
Erasure - A Little Respect
New Order - Blue Monday
Alphaville - Forever Young
Journey - Faithfully
The Human League - Don't You Want Me
Madonna - True Blue

Lisa and Lori's 60th Birthday Party at 2Planks Vineyards

Lisa and Lori celebrated their 60th birthday at 2Planks Vineyards in Vista, California. 

What’s better than celebrating someone’s birthday? How about celebrating two? And the celebrants are twins!

That was the case for this dual 60th birthday party for Lisa and Lori. Their party took place at 2Planks Vinyeards in Vista, Calif., and included close friends and family (including classmates from elementary school.

The nights playlist was a mix of great rock and roll from the 60s and 70s as well as a dance party with plenty of current favorites.

Here’s a look.

Dinner

• Eric Clapton - Lay Down Sally
• Bob Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone
• Toto - Hold the Line
• Bryan Adams - Cuts Like a Knife
• Eric Clapton - Change the World
• Phil Collins - You Can't Hurry Love
• Stephen Stills - Love the One You're With
• Doobie Brothers - China Grove
• Led Zepplin - D'yer Maker
• Allannah Myles - Black Velvet
• Hall & Oates - She's Gone
• Kenny Loggins - Your Mama Don't Dance
• Jim Croce - Bad Bad Leroy Brown
• Grand Funk Railroad - Some Kind of Wonderful
• Fleetwood Mac - Dreams
• Huey Lewis - Perfect World
• Eagles - Take It Easy
• Steve Winwood - Roll With It
• Five For Fighting - 100 years
• James Taylor - Your Smiling Face
• Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World
• Beatles - In My Life
• Green Day - Time of your life
• Passenger - Let Her Go
• Fray - How To Save A Life
• Journey - Faithfully
• Led Zepplin - Stairway To Heaven
• Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
• Bee Gees - How Deep Is Your Love
• Toto - Africa
• Rick James - Mary Jane 
• Wham! - Everything She Wants (Short Edit)
• Hall & Oates - Out Of Touch (Select Mix Remix)
• Carl Carlton - She's a Bad Mamma Jamma
• Yvonne Elliman - If I Can't Have You (Hot Classics Remix)
• Christopher Cross - Ride Like The Wind (Joey Negro Disco Mix)
• HAIM - Want You Back
• Kings Of Leon - Use Somebody
• Gavin DeGraw - Chariot
• Bay Ledges - Safe
• Charlie Puth - Some Type Of Love (Select Mix Remix)
• Gladys Knight & the Pips - I Heard It Through The Grapevine

2Planks Vineyards is a great spot for an event of 50 guests or less.

Dance Party

• Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
• Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling!
• Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk (Select Mix Remix)
• Sister Sledge - We Are Family
• The Kingsmen - Louie Louie (Select Mix Remix)
• KC & The Sunshine Band - Boogie Shoes (Hot Classics Remix)
• Michael Jackson - Don't Stop Till Get You Get Enough (Hot Classics Remix)
• Tone Loc - Wild Thing
• Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
• Van Halen - Jump
• Foundations - Build Me Up Buttercup
• Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
• Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama
• Zac Brown Band - Chicken Fried
• Cupid - Cupid Shuffle
• Black Eyed Peas - Let's Get It Started
• V.I.C. - Wobble
• Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive
• Beatles - Twist & Shout
• Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
• Blue Swede - Hooked on a Feeling
• Earth, Wind & Fire - September
• Marcia Griffiths - Electric Boogie
• Al Green - Let's Stay Together
• Lionel Richie - You Are
• Journey - Don't Stop Believin’
• One Direction - Story Of My Life

Clarisse Celebrates With a Hawaiian Style 50th Birthday

House parties are always made better with a live DJ. For Clarisse’s 50th bash, friends and family gathered at her home to celebrate on June 23, 2017. With a Hawaiian themed party, I started with a little reggae, but eventually moved into plenty of old school and 80s classics to celebrate.

Here’s a look at the setlist.

• UB40 - I Got You Babe
• Ellie Goulding - Burn (Loud City Reggae Remix)
• Daya - Sit Still Look Pretty (R!OT Remix)  
• A Tribe Called Quest - Bonita Applebum
• Rick James - Mary Jane (19Sixty Quick Hitter)
• Stevie Wonder - Knocks Me off My Feet (DJ Joey C Edit)
• Naughty By Nature - Jamboree
• Ray J - Sexy Can I
• J Boog - Let's Do It Again  
• Toploader - Dancing In The Moonlight
• Mariah Carey - Emotions
• Drake - Passionfruit (BPM Supreme Remix)  
• David Bowie - Let's Dance
• Kool & The Gang - Get Down On It (DJDX Extra Beat Edit)
• The Spinners - I'll Be Around (70s Classics)  
• Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Edge Remix)
• Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy (Select Mix Remix)
• Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots
• Brick - Dazz (Hot Classics Remix)
• Luther Vandross - Never Too Much
• Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
• Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It
• Jagged Edge - Where The Party At
• Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)
• Chainsmokers, Ashanti - Only U vs Roses (J. Espinosa Jumpoff Edit)
• Lady GaGa - Alejandro
• Destiny's Child - Jumpin' Jumpin' (Jean Tonique Remix)
• Sia ft Kendrick Lamar - The Greatest (Cosmic Dawn Remix)  
• Sia ft Sean Paul - Cheap Thrills (Mr. Collipark Remix)  
• Major Lazer ft Justin Bieber & MO - Cold Water (J Rythm BPM Supreme Remix)
• Levert - Casanova
• Sean Kingston f./Elan From The D.E.Y. And Juelz Santana - There's Nothin
• DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince - Summertime
• Earth, Wind & Fire - September
• Chaka Khan - I Feel For You (Hot Classics Remix)
• Michael Jackson - P.Y.T
• Brenda K. Starr - What You See Is What You Get (Freestyle Classics)
• Sa-Fire - Let Me Be The One (Select Mix Remix)
• Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Fore - Planet Rock (Vanilla Ace Remix)  
• Technotronic - Pump Up The Jam
• Christopher Cross - Ride Like The Wind (Joey Negro Disco Mix)  
• Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake - Love Never Felt So Good
• Kungs & Cookin' On 3 Burners - This Girl
• Andy Grammer - Honey, I'm Good (Select Mix Remix)
• Bruno Mars - That's What I Like
• KYLE f./Lil Yachty - iSpy
• Emotions - Best Of My Love
• Coolio - 1-2-3-4 (Sumpin' New)
• Griffith, Marcia - Electric Boogie
• Beatles - Birthday
• Commodores - Brickhouse
• Robbie Nevil - C'est La Vie (Select Mix Remix)
• Keith Sweat - I Want Her
• Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
• Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait
• Janet Jackson - Love Will Never Do
• Ja Rule - Livin' It Up
• Nelly - Hot In Herre
• Big Pun - Still Not a Player (feat. Joe)
• Van McCoy - The Hustle
• The Jacksons - Blame It On the Boogie
• Cheryl Lynn - Got To Be Real
• The Whispers - Rock Steady
• Vanity 6 - Nasty Girl
• Paula Abdul - Forever Your Girl
• Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam - Lost In Emotion (Freestyle Classics)
• Whitney Houston - How Will I Know
• Debbie Deb - Lookout Weekend
• Freestyle - Don't Stop the Rock Pt. 2 (Select Mix Remix)
• Jocelyn Enriquez - Do You Miss Me (Freestyle Classics)
• Afrika Bambaata & The Soulsonic Force - Planet Rock (Select Mix Remix)
• Run D.M.C. vs The Scene Kings vs Aylen - It's Tricky Wild Style (LOCZI Show Edit)
• Salt N Pepa - Push It (Mayeda Remix)
• Flo Rida - I Cry
• Walk The Moon - Shut Up And Dance (Select Mix Remix)

Kelli’s 30th Birthday - Private San Marcos Home

Kelli and her husband Dylan invited friend over for a fun party in honor of her 30th birthday. 

Kelli is the wife of a wedding photographer that I've worked with a few times. When I heard they were looking to throw a little bash for her 30th birthday, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. It took place at their new home in San Marcos and involved a "high school prom theme." This was mainly for fun, but also because Kelli's high school never had a prom. 

Well 12 years after her graduation she got the prom rolled into her 30th birthday. Great times!

Here's the setlist:

• Ja Rule, Jennifer Lopez - I'm Real (Select Mix Remix)
• Chris Brown - Yo (Excuse Me Miss) (Main Version)
• S.W.V. - Right Here (Human Nature Duet) 
• TLC - Creep (Select Mix Remix)
• Blu Cantrell - Breathe
• Snoop Dogg - Drop It Like It's Hot
• The Game - How We Do
• Fifth Harmony f./Kid Ink - Worth It
• DJ Snake f./Justin Bieber - Let Me Love You
• Mike Perry f./Shy Martin - The Ocean
• Mark Morrison - Return of the Mack
• Gwen Stefani - Make Me Like You
• Tobtok f./River - Fast Car
• Ellie Goulding - On My Mind
• Nelly f./Jeremih - The Fix (Riddler Remix - Clean)
• Discotron - Disco Ballin'  
• Boyz II Men - Motownphilly
• Bell Biv Devoe - Poison
• Baby Bash - Baby I'm Back
• Blackstreet - No Diggity (Mayeda Twerk Remix)
• Beyonce - Crazy In Love
• Drake f./Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance (Promo Only Quick Edit)
• Kiiara - Gold (J Farell Remix)  (Radio Edit)
• Notorious B.I.G. - Big Poppa
• Luniz - I Got 5 On It (J.Rabbit Remix)
• 50 Cent - In Da Club
• Jay-Z - Izzo
• Kanye West - Gold Digger
• Miley Cyrus f. Jay-Z - We Can't Stop (DJ Scooter Twerk Remix - Clean)
• Young Gunz - Can't Stop Won't Stop
• Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
• Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza (SeeB Remix) (Select Mix Remix)
• Ciara - 1, 2 Step
• Usher - My Boo
• Maroon 5 - She Will Be Loved
• Cassidy - Hotel
• Usher - Yeah
• TuPac - How Do You Want It
• 2pac Ft K-Ci & JoJo - How Do You Want It (Intro Clean)
• Dr Dre ft Snoop Dogg, Kurup & Nate Dogg - The Next Episode (Intro Clean)
• Stevie Wonder - Happy Birthday
• Pussycat Dolls - Don't Cha
• Black Eyed Peas - My Humps
• DNCE - Cake By The Ocean (Riddler Remix)  
• Andy Grammer - Honey, I'm Good (Select Mix Remix)
• Kungs & Cookin' On 3 Burners - This Girl (Promo Only Intro Edit)
• Calvin Harris f./Rihanna - This Is What You Came For (Promo Only Quick Edit)
• 69 Boyz - Tootsee Roll (Select Mix Remix)
• Tag Team - Whoomp! There It Is
• Pitbull f./John Ryan - Fireball (Radio Edit)
• Britney Spears - Toxic
• Flo Rida - Low
• P. Diddy - I Need a Girl
• Kanye West - Good Life
• Fetty Wap f./Remy Boyz - 679 (Promo Only Quick Edit)
• Sia, Sean Paul - Cheap Thrills (Select Mix Remix)
• Flo Rida - My House
• The Chainsmokers f./Halsey - Closer (Promo Only R3hab Intro Edit)
• Meghan Trainor f./John Legend - Like I'm Gonna Lose You
• Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing (Kygo Radio Edit)
• Hailee Steinfeld & Grey f./Zedd - Starving (Promo Only Quick Edit)
• The Weeknd f./Daft Punk - Starboy
• Lost Frequencies f./Janieck Devy - Reality
• Charming Horses feat. Grace Grundy - Higher Love (Original Mix)

Joe's 50th Birthday Party - Voce Del Mar Special Event

San Diego, Justin Kanoya, with party host Felicia (right) and her sister, Allison (middle).

I had the opportunity to celebrate with the friends and family of Joe Parker at his 50th birthday party. The event took place on March 12, 2016 at Voce Del Mar, located in La Jolla, California.

It was also a reunion of sorts, as one of Joe’s relatives (his sister in law) is a former co-worker of mine. Always great to see old friends.

Here’s a look at the setlist

Arrivals

• Medsound - Come (Original Mix)
• INDSA, Misharev - Satin Sunrise (MotiBo Remix)
• Pet Shop Boys - What Have I Done To Deserve This
• Kool & The Gang - Fresh (12'' remix)
• Wham! - Everything She Wants
• Cameo - Word Up (Select Mix Remix)
• Hall & Oates - Out Of Touch (Select Mix Remix)
• Dan Hartman - I Can Dream About You (Select Mix Remix)
• Taylor Swift - Style
• Omarion ft Chris Brown & Jhene Aiko - Post To Be (Dennis Blaze Remix)
• Tori Kelly - Nobody Love (Select Mix Remix)
• Earth Wind & Fire - Shining Star (Hot Classics Remix)
• Wang Chung - Dance Hall Days (Edge Remix)
• Geore Clinton - Atomic Dog

Dinner

• 50 Cent - In Da Club (Hidden Beach Recordings)
• A Tribe Called Quest - Bonita Applebum (Hidden Beach Recordings)
• Bryan Savage - Soul Temptation
• Eagles - Peaceful Easy Feeling
• Big Pun - Still Not A Playa
• Grand Funk Railroad - Some Kind of Wonderful
• Norman Brown - West Coast Coolin'
• Eagles - One of These Nights
• Echosmith - Cool Kids
• Bruce Springsteen - Dancing in the Dark
• Doobie Brothers - Black Water
• Eagles - Take It Easy
• Justin Timberlake - Senorita
• Flo Rida - My House (Select Mix Remix)
• Taylor Swift vs Lauryn Hill - Blank Space (DJ Skillz Throwback Blend)
• Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)
• Snoop Dogg & Pharrell - Beautiful
• Malo - Suavecito

Dancing

• Todd Rundgren - Bang the Drum All Day
• Mariah Carey - Heartbreaker
• Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It
• Al Green - Let's Stay Together
• Joan Osborne - Heat Wave
• Will Smith - Gettin' Jiggy Wit It
• Silento - Watch Me
• OMI - Hula Hoop
• Andy Grammer - Honey, I'm Good (Select Mix Remix)
• Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch - Good Vibrations (Select Mix Remix)
• Justin Bieber - What Do You Mean? (Select Mix Remix)
• One Direction - Where Do Broken Hearts Go (Select Mix Remix)
• Usher - Yeah
• Kriss Kross - Jump
• Britney Spears - I'm A Slave 4 U
• Journey - Don't Stop Believin' (Live)
• AC/DC - You Shook Me All Night Long
• Gap Band - You Dropped a Bomb On Me
• Michael Jackson - P.Y.T.
• Justin Bieber - Love Yourself (RENAIR Uptempo ReDrum Edit)  
• Charli XCX - Break The Rules (Select Mix Remix)
• Tupac - California Love (Original Version)
• Dr Dre ft Snoop Dogg, Kurup & Nate Dogg - The Next Episode
• Missy Elliott - Get Ur Freak On (Mayeda Remix)
• Miley Cyrus f. Jay-Z - We Can't Stop (DJ Scooter Twerk Remix - Clean)
• Miley Cyrus - Party In The U.S.A.
• Major Lazer, DJ Snake, MO - Lean On (Select Mix Remix)
• K.C. & the Sunshine Band - Get Down Tonight
• The Emotions - Best Of My Love
• Earth, Wind & Fire - September
• The Commodores - Lady (Hot Classics Remix)
• Chaka Khan - I Feel For You (Hot Classics Remix)
• Pat Benatar - Hit Me With Your Best Shot (Select Mix Remix)
• Deniece Williams - Let's Hear It For The Boy (Select Mix Remix)
• Whitney Houston - How Will I Know (Select Mix Remix)
• DJ Dan & WhiteNoize - Hey Ho  
• Will Smith - Boom Shake The Room
• Paperboy - Ditty
• Kid 'n Play - Ain't Gonna Hurt Nobody
• Notorious B.I.G. - Big Poppa
• TLC - Waterfalls
• Toni Braxton - You Mean The World To Me (Select Mix Remix)
• Walk The Moon - Shut Up & Dance (G Duppy Remix)
• A-Ha - Take On Me (Kygo Remix)