'Priceless' Nicole Richie's 30th birthday

September 22, 2011 |  2:11 pm                                                                                                            Nicole Richie turned 30 on Wednesday, celebrating a new decade with her better half, friends and family in Beverly Hills.

Richie and her party took over the Royal Suite at the swanky Beverly Wilshire for a grown-and-sexy fete with no particular theme. 

"To me, this most important thing is that my friends just come and have a good time, nothing too forced," Richie told us while getting ready, husband Joel Madden at her side. 

In sparkly vintage red mini and spiked Louboutins, Richie received pals including Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, father Lionel Richie, Mindy Kalling, Samantha Ronson and Quincy Jones.

We pointed out that the Regent was quite an adult venue for someone just crossing the threshhold into her 30s, and she agreed: "I am so classy! Classy with a K, but classy. I'm almost there with the C."

Jokes aside, Richie opened up about her journey from reality-show wild child to married mother of two. 

"If life was about one lesson, we'd all be perfect. But it's not," she said. "I try to learn lessons every day. Life is about waking up and going out there and being the best version of you."

Her morning and afternoon were spent with daughter Harlow, 3, and son Sparrow, who celebrated his second birthday Sept. 9.

"Their life doesn't stop when it's my birthday. They have school and ballet and this and that. I was just a mom, which I'm totally happy being," she said, "My son just had his birthday, and they just don't care. They're birthdayed out! We just had the cake and the song and the whole bit." 

Richie did enjoy some tiny spoils, however, such as a tiered birthday cake with gold detail, a dance-off in the suite led by emcee Ronson and the obligatory playing of her dad's hit "All Night Long."

A video montage was projected starring her kids and close ones, and the Winter Kate designer did land one exclusive gift — the unreleased Samsung Galaxy SII, which she used to snap pics of her guests throughout the evening.

"I'm so excited about this new chapter in my life and so ready for something new," Richie said. "So many of my girlfriends say that your 30s are the best. I couldn't be more ready."

Book Title: Priceless
By: Nicole Richie


Meet Charlotte Williams… Rich, gorgeous, blonde and a talented singer, she has everything going for her. Spoiled and indulged, her life has always revolved around fashion, gossip, partying and men. When Charlotte’s father – her only family since her mother’s tragic death years ago – is arrested on fraud charges, her glittering world shatters around her. Alone and penniless, she must make her own way for the very first time. Harassed by paparazzi and the outraged victims of her father’s crimes, Charlotte flees to New Orleans to escape the scandal. But what happens when a Park Avenue Princess is forced to fend for herself? How will she adapt to the Big Easy’s bohemian lifestyle? And in the face of anonymous death threats, can she keep herself out of danger? From the stylish avenues of Manhattan and dark clubs of the French Quarter to the bright lights of Los Angeles, Nicole Richie’s scintillating tale shows that the very life you run from is the one that won’t let you hide.

Chapter 1

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         "Hello, Davis, how nice to see a familiar face so soon." She shook his hand."Miss Charlotte, it's a pleasure to have you back in New York. The city has been very quiet without you."She laughed. "I doubt that, Davis, but thanks. Is the car very far? My shoes are killing me. 

" She'd worn sweats for the flight, but just before they began their descent, she'd changed into her city clothes. Louboutins, which were pinching her feet after only a hundred yards, a Marc Jacobs dress from spring '09, with a wide wrapped belt, a cashmere sweater coat.

 Still comfortable and easy to wear but appropriate for public viewing.He shook his head. "Just outside, Miss."Indeed, the long, low Mercedes was parked right in front, in a red zone, a cop very slowly writing a ticket for it. He saw them coming and looked around, making sure no one saw Davis slipping him a folded bill. Charlotte kicked off her shoes and relaxed as Davis expertly navigated the traffic back into town.It was very good to be home.However , no one except the staff was home to welcome her.

 The housekeeper was the same, but a young man she hadn't seen before was working on the plants. She looked him over and decided to save him for later. Sitting on her bed, she surveyed her room."Your father had it repainted for you." The housekeeper was unpacking her things, silently evaluating and appreciating the silken underwear, the fine labels: La Perla, Aubade, Eres."How did he manage to do that and yet have it look exactly the same?" Every doll, every picture, every photo was precisely where she had left it the year before.Greta shrugged. "He spent a lot of time in here while you were away." She looked around. "And he paid a designer to draw a map of where everything was." She smiled at the memory. "It was quite a task."Charlotte frowned, tucking her long blond hair behind her ears. "Why was he in here so much?" She pulled her feet up onto her bed, pausing at a glance from Greta, removing her shoes.