I Cooked a Festive Dinner for 20 People for My Husband’s Birthday — Then He Ditched Me to Celebrate at a Bar

I thought I was being a good wife, throwing a festive dinner for my husband Todd’s 35th birthday. But just as the guests were about to arrive, he told me he was ditching the party to watch the game at a bar. What happened next? Let’s just say, I got the last laugh.

You’d think six years of marriage would teach someone a little gratitude, but not Todd. Every year, I’d pour my heart and soul into his birthday, only for him to take it all for granted.

This year, though, his entitlement hit a whole new level.

A man standing in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney

A man standing in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney

Six years. That’s how long Todd and I have been married.

Don’t get me wrong, our relationship isn’t all bad. Todd can be charming when he wants to be, and we’ve had some wonderful times together. But there’s one thing about him that drives me absolutely up the wall.

His entitlement.

Take last Thanksgiving, for example. Todd had this brilliant idea to host a dinner for both of our families. He announced it at breakfast one day, grinning like he’d solved world hunger.

Breakfast on a table | Source: Pexels

Breakfast on a table | Source: Pexels

“Claire,” he said, “I think we should host Thanksgiving this year.”

“Okay,” I replied. “That sounds nice. How are we dividing up the responsibilities?”

He waved me off like I’d just asked him to do a headstand.

“Oh, you’re so much better at that stuff,” he said. “I’ll handle… I don’t know, drinks or something. Just make it memorable, alright?”

I should’ve known better, but I went along with it.

For two weeks, I planned and prepped while Todd played fantasy football and occasionally asked me, “You need me to pick up anything?”

A man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney

A man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney

On the big day, I roasted the turkey, whipped up sides, and even made two pies.

And Todd? He carried the cooler of beer into the living room. That’s it.

After dinner, as everyone raved about the food and decor, Todd decided it was time to take credit for everything.

“Glad you all love it,” he said. “I wanted it to be special this year.”

I thought I’d misheard him.

“Oh, really?” I asked. “What part did you want special? The green bean casserole or the centerpiece?”

A woman standing in her living room | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing in her living room | Source: Midjourney

He ignored me, of course.

And that’s Todd in a nutshell. He wants the credit without lifting a finger.

Then there was last year on his birthday.

I spent weeks creating a customized photo album, filling it with pictures from our travels and special moments together. I couldn’t wait to see his reaction when he unwrapped it.

But when he was done flipping through the pages, he just said, “Oh. So, where’s the real gift?”

It wasn’t just his words that hurt. It was the sheer audacity.

A woman looking at her husband | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking at her husband | Source: Midjourney

I’d married a man who once wrote me poetry, and now he couldn’t appreciate a heartfelt gesture. That moment shattered something in me.

It made me realize he wasn’t the man I’d fallen for anymore.

And then came his 35th birthday. The final straw.

We were having dinner when Todd casually told me his plans.

“Claire, I want a big, proper birthday dinner this year,” he said. “Invite the family, my buddies, everyone.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You mean you want me to plan it?”

A woman in her house | Source: Midjourney

A woman in her house | Source: Midjourney

“Well, yeah,” he said. “You’re good at this stuff. Just make it decent, alright? I don’t want to be embarrassed in front of everyone.”

“Decent?” I repeated.

“Yeah, just don’t go overboard or anything. Keep it classy.”

You see the entitlement here? See the way he thinks he deserves a birthday party while knowing how he’d hurt me with his words last time?

Honestly, I didn’t want to agree, but I decided to give him another chance. After all, it was his birthday, and I wanted to make it special even if he didn’t deserve it.

A close-up shot of a woman's eyes | Source: Midjourney

A close-up shot of a woman’s eyes | Source: Midjourney

For the next two weeks, I threw myself into planning Todd’s “big, proper birthday dinner.” If he wanted classy, I’d give him classy.

I drafted an impressive menu that had spinach-stuffed chicken, rosemary potatoes, a charcuterie board with cheeses I couldn’t pronounce, and a three-layer chocolate cake that would be the pièce de résistance.

Every day after work, I’d come home, tie my hair up, and get to work cleaning, organizing, and prepping. I even borrowed extra chairs and a folding table from our neighbor, Janice, just to make sure everyone would have a seat.

Todd’s contribution? Absolutely nothing.

A woman cleaning the house | Source: Pexels

A woman cleaning the house | Source: Pexels

“I’m swamped at work,” he said one night, kicking off his shoes and plopping onto the couch. “But you’ve got this, babe. You’re good at these things.”

Good at these things? I was so tired I could’ve cried.

But instead of snapping, I smiled and said, “Yeah, I’ve got this.”

The day of the party finally arrived.

I woke up early, determined to make everything perfect.

A woman standing in the hallway | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing in the hallway | Source: Midjourney

The house was spotless. The table was set with matching linens and little name cards I’d handwritten. The appetizers were chilling, the main courses simmering, and the cake was decorated with edible gold flakes.

Yes, I went that far.

Todd strolled into the kitchen around noon, scrolling through his phone as usual. He barely glanced at the spread I’d laid out.

“Looks good,” he muttered as he opened the fridge to grab a soda.

“Looks good?” I repeated, half-joking but half-hoping he’d notice the effort I’d put in.

A woman standing in her house | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing in her house | Source: Midjourney

“Yeah,” he said, shutting the fridge door. Then, like it was no big deal, he added, “But hey, uh, don’t bother finishing all this.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m heading to the bar with the guys to watch the game instead. Cancel everything. Tell everyone something came up.”

“You’re ditching your own birthday dinner?” I asked. “Todd, I’ve been planning this for weeks!”

“It’s not a big deal, Claire,” he shrugged it off. “Just call everyone and tell them we’re busy or something. They’ll understand.”

A man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney

A man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney

“They’ll understand?” My voice rose. “Todd, people are already on their way! You told me to make this decent and now you’re leaving?”

“I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of the guys,” he said, ending the conversation.

Then, he grabbed his jacket and walked out of the door.

“You can’t do this, Todd!” I shouted, but he’d already left.

I was so heartbroken. I’d poured my heart, soul, and savings into this dinner, and he just walked out like it was nothing.

A woman looking outside the window | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking outside the window | Source: Midjourney

Cancel everything? After all the work I’d done?

But more than anything, I felt humiliated.

How could he treat me like this? How could he brush off all my efforts as if they didn’t matter?

I stared at the table while the candles flickered mockingly.

Is this what you’re worth, Claire? I asked myself. Is this how you’ll let Todd treat you? No. You can’t do this.

At that point, I decided I wouldn’t cancel the dinner. I won’t allow him to make me feel bad again.

A woman standing in a living room | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing in a living room | Source: Midjourney

If Todd wanted to act like a spoiled brat, I’d let him, but not without showing him what “embarrassing” really looked like. He had no idea who he was messing with.

I grabbed my phone and sent a group text to all the guests:

Party’s still on! Change of plans. Meet us at the bar on the main street near our place. Bring your appetite!

Then, I got to work.

I packed all the food and loaded it into the car. Then, I drove straight to the bar Todd had mentioned.

A woman driving | Source: Pexels

A woman driving | Source: Pexels

When I arrived, the place was already buzzing with noise. I looked around and spotted Todd sitting at a table with his buddies, his back to the door. He was completely oblivious to my presence.

“Uh, ma’am? Can I help you?” the bartender asked with wide eyes after noticing the trays of food I was carrying.

I flashed him my sweetest smile. “Oh, I’m just here to share a meal with some people who’ll actually appreciate it.”

A woman standing in a bar | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing in a bar | Source: Midjourney

I picked a table near the bar, in full view of Todd’s group, and began unpacking dish after dish. The aroma of the food quickly caught everyone’s attention. Patrons nearby craned their necks to see what was going on.

“What’s this about?” one man asked, gesturing toward the feast I was setting up.

I raised my voice just enough to carry across the room. “Oh, this was supposed to be my husband’s birthday dinner. But he decided to ditch me and come here, so I thought, why let all this food go to waste?”

A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

The room erupted in murmurs and laughter, and a few people even clapped. That’s when Todd finally turned around and spotted me.

He immediately stormed over while his buddies murmured amongst themselves.

“Claire! What the hell are you doing?” he hissed, his eyes darting nervously between me and the growing crowd.

I didn’t even look at him.

Instead, I addressed the nearest group of patrons. “You like ham? Help yourselves! There’s cake coming too.”

A close-up shot of food in a plate | Source: Pexels

A close-up shot of food in a plate | Source: Pexels

Just as Todd sputtered out another protest, the front door swung open, and in walked his parents, my parents, his sister, and our cousins.

They looked at us, then at the food, and then at all the people munching on what was supposed to be a formal dinner.

Todd’s mom, bless her bluntness, walked right up to him. “What’s going on, Todd? Claire said to meet here for your birthday dinner, but why is she serving food in a bar?”

An older woman | Source: Midjourney

An older woman | Source: Midjourney

Todd looked like he wanted to disappear into the floor.

“Uh, it’s complicated, Mom,” he muttered.

“Oh, I’d love to explain!” I intervened. “Todd decided that watching the game with his friends was more important than the dinner he demanded I plan. So, I brought the dinner to him!”

His dad shook his head. “How disrespectful,” he muttered.

Meanwhile, my mom grabbed a plate and said, “Well, the food smells amazing. Let’s eat!”

A woman in a bar | Source: Midjourney

A woman in a bar | Source: Midjourney

Soon, both our families joined the other patrons and dug into the feast I’d worked so hard on.

And Todd’s friends? They were still laughing at his expense and told him they’ll never forget this day.

By the time I brought out the cake, the bar felt like a full-blown party. On top of the cake, in bold frosting letters, I had written:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SELFISH HUSBAND!

The bar erupted in laughter when I read it aloud, but Todd wasn’t too happy about that.

A man laughing | Source: Pexels

A man laughing | Source: Pexels

“Was this really necessary, Claire?” he muttered under his breath.

I tilted my head, smiling sweetly. “Absolutely.”

Once everyone was done, I started packing up the empty trays. That’s when the bartender stopped me.

“Ma’am, you’re a legend,” he said. “Drinks on the house if you ever come back. Without him, of course!”

I chuckled. “Thank you! I’ll definitely drop by sometime.”

The families didn’t stick around long after the food was gone. My dad gave me a proud nod as he left, while Todd’s mom told him he could’ve done better.

An older woman speaking to her son | Source: Midjourney

An older woman speaking to her son | Source: Midjourney

As we drove back home, Todd kept muttering about being “humiliated.” Once we were back, he protested even more.

“Claire, you humiliated me in front of everyone!” he said, throwing his hands in the air.

“No, Todd,” I shot back. “You humiliated yourself. And for the record, don’t expect another homemade meal anytime soon.”

He knew he couldn’t argue with me at that point. He just turned around and stormed off to the bedroom.

A doorknob | Source: Pexels

A doorknob | Source: Pexels

It’s been two weeks since that night, and I kid you not, Todd has changed. Well, mostly.

His unrealistic demands have dialed down, and he’s been unusually polite, almost as if he’s afraid I’ll pull another stunt like that. He hasn’t apologized outright for ditching me, but his sheepish behavior says enough.

I guess now he knows I’m not the kind of wife who’ll roll over and take his nonsense anymore. If nothing else, that’s a win in my book.

A woman standing by a window | Source: Pexels

A woman standing by a window | Source: Pexels

What would you have done if you were in my shoes?

Anna Nicole Smith’s Daughter’s 18th Birthday Style Sparks Debate – See Her Dramatic ‘Goth’ Look!

Dannielynn Birkhead recently celebrated her 18th birthday, and it was a special event. However, her choice of outfit for the party stirred up a lot of online discussion. Some people loved her unique style, while others didn’t like it at all.

The birthday celebration for Dannielynn, who is the daughter of the late Anna Nicole Smith, was a big event. Despite the party being memorable, her fashion choice sparked a lot of mixed reactions from people online.

On Saturday, September 7, Dannielynn Birkhead’s dad, Larry Birkhead, shared some exciting photos on Instagram. He gave fans a peek into their special celebration at the “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” The Afterlife Experience in Los Angeles. It was clear that Dannielynn’s 18th birthday was a unique and memorable event, just like they had planned.

Instagram/larryanddannielynn

Larry Birkhead posted on Instagram, “Dannielynn had a great time celebrating her 18th birthday with friends and family at the @beetlejuiceafterlife.exp and @beetlejuicemovie. It made for an out-of-this-world experience!” He shared photos of the fun and spooky celebration, giving fans a glimpse into Dannielynn’s special day.

Instagram/larryanddannielynn

Dannielynn went all-out for her 18th birthday with a gothic-chic look, wearing an all-black outfit from Hot Topic. Larry Birkhead shared on Instagram, “Of course, Dannielynn found a Hot Topic store to get a spooky outfit for all the fun!  Happy 18th Birthday Dannielynn!” His post added a playful touch to the celebration.

Instagram/larryanddannielynn

Dannielynn fully embraced the quirky Beetlejuice theme with her birthday look. She wore spooky makeup, styled her blonde hair in loose waves with bangs, and rocked a gothic glam outfit. Among the highlights of her birthday celebration, she was seen posing by the ocean with a stunning sunset in the background.

Instagram/larryanddannielynn

Another photo showed Dannielynn striking a pose with a man dressed as Beetlejuice himself!

Instagram/larryanddannielynn

Other photos captured Dannielynn getting her makeup done and beaming with joy at the entrance to the “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” movie event.

Instagram/larryanddannielynn

One clip even showed her waving to the camera with a Beetlejuice sign on the table. As with any big celebration on social media, Dannielynn’s birthday post sparked a range of opinions.

Instagram/larryanddannielynn

Critics quickly shared their thoughts on Dannielynn’s gothic makeup and outfit. One commenter said, “She’s goth… Anna Nicole would not approve of that,” while another lamented, “Her mother is turning in her grave .” Some were blunt, stating, “Not a good look,” and one person even suggested, “Larry needs to stop dressing her.”

Instagram/larryanddannielynn

Despite the criticism, Dannielynn’s supporters rallied to her side. One fan defended her, saying, “Dad did right by his daughter. I know Anna would be so proud; she’s so beautiful like her mom .” Another praised her, writing, “Such a lovely girl! Her mama would be proud!” Many fans highlighted Dannielynn’s resemblance to her famous mother, with one commenting, “Beautiful girl. Looks so much like her mother.”

Instagram/larryanddannielynn

Larry Birkhead shared that Dannielynn’s final look was inspired by “Ankh” from the movie “Kamen Rider OOO 10th: Core Medal of Resurrection.”

He wrote, “Had an awesome time at this weekend’s @officialpowermorphicon in Pasadena, California, thanks to @tokuspirits! Dannielynn was so excited to meet @maaaaaaaasahiro (Masahiro Inoue) who plays ‘Decade’ from ‘Kamen Rider Decade,’ that she was overcome with joy.”

Instagram/larryanddannielynn

Larry continued in his message, “She was also excited to meet @yuikoike_official (Gokai Pink) and @ozawa_ryota (Gokai Red) from ‘Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger,’ and @yasuhisa_furuhara0813 (Go-on Red) from ‘Engine Sentai Go-Onger’ was another favorite! This was the first stop and a pre-celebration for Dannielynn’s upcoming birthday! The countdown begins now!”

Instagram/larryanddannielynn

Larry continued in his message, “She was also excited to meet @yuikoike_official (Gokai Pink) and @ozawa_ryota (Gokai Red) from ‘Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger,’ and @yasuhisa_furuhara0813 (Go-on Red) from ‘Engine Sentai Go-Onger’ was another favorite! This was the first stop and a pre-celebration for Dannielynn’s upcoming birthday! The countdown begins now!”

Instagram/larryanddannielynn

Larry thanked everyone and the organizations that helped make their attendance at the event possible. He hinted that he and Dannielynn might be heading to Japan next, closing his caption with excitement about future adventures.

Fans who saw their fun at Power Morphicon took to the comments, praising Dannielynn’s various looks and her beautiful hair transformations.

Dannielynn Birkhead and her father, Larry Birkhead, share a close and supportive relationship. As Dannielynn transitions into adulthood, she continues to make her father proud. Larry often reflects on her growth and the journey they’ve shared, celebrating her milestones and achievements.

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